This report is to our knowledge the first to study plant growth promotion and biocontrol characteristics of Bacillus isolates from extreme environments of Eastern Algeria. Seven isolates of 14 (50 %) were screened for their ability to inhibit growth of some phytopathogenic fungi on PDA and some roots exudates. The bacteria identification based on 16S r-RNA and gyrase-A gene sequence analysis showed that 71 % of the screened isolates belonged to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the rest were closely related to B. atrophaeus and B. mojavensis. Most of them had high spore yields (22 × 10(8)-27 × 10(8) spores/ml). They produced protease and cellulase cell wall-degrading enzymes while the chitinase activity was only observed in the B. atrophaeus (6SEL). A wide variety of lipopeptides homologous was detected by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analysis. Interestingly, some additional peaks with new masses were characterized, which may correspond to new fengycin classes. The isolates produced siderophores and indole-3- acetic acid phytohormone. The greenhouse experiment using a naturally infested soil with Sclerotonia sclerotiorum showed that the B. atrophaeus (6SEL) significantly increased the size of the chickpea plants and reduced the stem rot disease (P < 0.05). These results suggest that these isolates may be used further as bio-inoculants to improve crop systems.

A total of 24 lipolytic yeasts were isolated from the spent olive derived from olive fruits of the Algerian variety Chemlal. One strain, G5, had the highest lipolytic activity (20 mm) on the tributyrin agar plate. The morphological, biochemical characterization and 18S rDNA gene analysis of the selected strain, confirms that it is Candida boidinii KF156789. The production of lipase and biomass were carried out in liquid and solid (spent olive) media. In submerged fermentation, it seemed that the production of enzyme reached its maximum 7.3 U/ml, whereas; the growth cells reached its maximum at 1.9 × 10 8 cell/ml. That can be explained by the assimilation of free fatty acids by this strain after degradation of olive oil by the enzyme. The production of lipase and biomass, in solid state fermentation, gave the maximum yield for cell growth (1.3 × 10 9 cell/ml), while lipolytic activity reached 4.8 U/g. The highest activity of the studied enzyme was at pH 7.0 and 37°C. The enzyme maintained more than 90% of its activity at pH 8.0-9.0 and 70% at temperature range of 4-40°C; it was concluded that the lipase from C. boidinii KF156789 has the potential to be an alkaline cold-adapted enzyme.

The recovery of dates downgraded as a fermentation medium for the production of extracellular catalase by Aspergillus phoenicis K30 was studied. Analysis of the chemical composition of pulp and kernel flour of dates showed that the pulp had a considerably greater carbohydrate content compared to the kernel (84 vs 2.93% respectively). However, the kernel flour was richer in nitrogen (0.68% vs 0.34), mineral elements (3.63 vs 1.28%) and in essential fatty acids C18: 2 vs C18: 3 than the pulp flour. The soluble extract of the date flour showed that sugars solubilised at 90% consisted of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Therefore, this extract, being an important source of carbon and energy, was used in the current study as a fermentation medium (after supplementation with 20% of corn steep) for the production of extracellular catalase by A. Phoenicis K30. During the course of this fermentation, the biomass was estimated at 18.6 g / L after 72 h of culture, while the maximum concentration of extracellular catalase (47.5 U / ml) was reached at 96 h of fermentation. The mycelium obtained in pellet form is suitable for industrial exploitation of this process.

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