The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of the white rot basidiomycete Coriolopsis rigida to detoxify the water soluble fraction from "alpeorujo" (WSFA), a solid by-product produced by the olive oil extraction industry and characterized by a high concentration of phenols which limits its use as fertilizer and/or amendment. C. rigida reduced the phenol content in the liquid media supplemented with WSFA at 10 and 20% (v/v) after 15d of incubation. The analysis of WSFA toxicity after fungal treatment showed that C. rigida was responsible for a significant increase in the survival rate of Azospirillum brasiliense, a N(2) fixing soil rhizobacterium which promotes plant growth. Supplementation of culture medium with CuSO(4) (300 microM) resulted in strong laccase induction thus facilitating higher phenol reduction and detoxification of WSFA. In vitro reactions using a crude extracellular preparation from laccase-active C. rigida showed phenol removal as well as detoxification of the WSFA at 20%. These results suggest that C. rigida reduces the phenol content of the WSFA through the effect of laccase on free phenolic compounds consequently decreasing the toxic effect on A. brasiliense, which suggests that the enzyme plays an important role in the process. These findings have implications in the management and revalorization of olive-mill residues treated with laccase-producing fungi and their potential impact on integrative agricultural systems including organic residues and the co-inoculation with microorganisms which can facilitate the growth of plants of agricultural interest.

The Mediterranean countries are the largest producers of olives with Spain taking the lead in olive oil production. A two-phase extraction system is used to produce oil and dry olive residue (DOR), a waste product. DOR biochar was tested as an amendment for contaminated soils to reduce the trace element (TE) contents in crops. A DOR sample was transformed into biochar at 350°C and 500°C, and a pot experiment was conducted, where spring wheat was grown. Moreover, the mutual effect of biochar application and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation was assessed. The results showed the decreasing extractable proportions of Cd in the treated soils, whereas an ambiguous effect of DOR biochar on the mobility of As, Pb, and Zn in soil was observed. The changes in TE in the treated soils were related to enhanced soil pH due to the biochar application. Stepwise increases in extractable soil potassium (K) proportions were determined because of the high content of K in DOR. The element contents in wheat plants were affected by an interaction of the soil element contents and pH, and biochar pyrolysis temperature. The AMF inoculation did not affect the biochar-induced changes in element fate in the soils. The results proved the ability of DOR-based biochar to serve as the source of nutrients, especially K. However, further research is necessary to test a wider range the application rates of biochar, as well as the long-term fate of biochar in the treated soils.

El objetivo de este artículo es conocer y analizar la valoración del personal de un hospital universitario de Andalucía, España, sobre el clima emocional, el tipo de liderazgo ejercido y la calidad de la información y comunicación interna, así como recoger sus propuestas de mejora. El estudio realizado con 730 profesionales facultativos, enfermeros y auxiliares, usa metodología cuantitativa y cualitativa. Los resultados reflejan la existencia de un clima emocional medio-bajo, que se correlaciona con el estilo de liderazgo y la percepción sobre el grado de información y comunicación. Se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los resultados, en función de las categorías profesionales, así como de la unidad o servicio hospitalario. Las demandas de los y las profesionales reflejan una valoración positiva de sus responsables, aunque se evidencia la necesidad de más habilidades propias de un estilo de liderazgo orientador, participativo y afiliativo.

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