ARI REVIEW FOR 2016-2017

use of different local varieties (Xynisteri and Mavro) during the preparation of these products affects their chemical and microbiological characteristics. During this study we also recorded the preparation process that is implemented by the producers of these products. The grape variety used for the preparation of these products has a significant effect on their chemical composition and especially in polyphenols (anthocyanins and stilbenes). Finally, an analytical method for the detection of the addition of sucrose was developed and tested in real samples. ( G. Maratheutis, I.M. Ioannides, M. Omirou ) ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY Characterisation of PrP genotypes in sheep and goats Scrapie is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats that belongs to the family of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Sheep susceptibility to scrapie is associated with polymorphisms in the ovine prion protein ( PrP ) gene at codons 136, 154 and 171. Genomic DNA was isolated and purified from peripheral blood leucocytes using standard procedures. The identification of the allelic variants present in the DNA samples was performed in a simple multiplex PCR reaction and melting curve analysis of the PrP gene. Genetic analysis of blood samples of the Chios sheep (874 samples) continued in 2016/17, in order to identify and select genotypes resistant to the scrapie disease. Presently at the ARI, the Chios sheep nucleus unit counts over 400 breeding animals exclusively of the scrapie resistant genotype ARR/ARR. In addition, the molecular fingerprinting for goats is in progress. In 2016/17, 685 blood samples were tested for scrapie disease genotypes. The data were submitted to the laboratory molecular data bank for further analysis. Also, based on scrapie genotyping, a nucleus unit with all the different goat genotypes is being established at the Research Farm of the Animal Production Section. ( I.M. Ioannides, G. Hadjipavlou ) Isolation and characterisation of pesticide degrading microorganisms and their formulation Contamination of waters by xenobiotic compounds such as pesticides presents a serious environmental problem affecting European water resources. The aim of this work has been to evaluate the ability of several bacterial species for biodegradation of the pesticides imidacloprid, pendimethalin, imazalil, thiabendazole and ortho- phenyl phenol in batch liquid cultures. Several bacterial species have been isolated and screened for their ability to metabolize these pesticides via the enrichment process. Despite the relatively high persistence of the tested pesticides, the results obtained so far showed that Acinetobacter and Sphingomonas like species have a high capability for biodegradation of these compounds. These isolates could prove valuable as active pesticide- degrading microorganisms, increasing the efficiency of pesticide bio-purification systems such as biobeds or specifically designed bio-filters. The degradation product of TBZ derived from Acinetobacter activity was identified. The active strains are currently evaluated in different formulations in order to scale up their application in biobed systems. ( M. Omirou, I.M. Ioannides ) Bioaugmentation of thiabendazole-contaminated soils from a wastewater disposal site: Factors driving the efficacy of this strategy and the diversity of the indigenous soil bacterial community The application of the fungicide thiabendazole (TBZ) in fruit packaging plants (FPP) results in the production of effluents which are often disposed in adjacent field sites. These require remediation to prevent further environmental dispersal of TBZ. We assessed the bioaugmentation potential of a newly isolated TBZ-degrading bacterial consortium in a naturally contaminated soil (NCS) exhibiting a natural gradient of TBZ levels (12000, 400, 250 and 12 mg kg−1). The effect of aging on bioaugmentation efficacy was comparatively tested in a soil with similar physicochemical properties and soil microbiota, which was artificially, contaminated with the same TBZ levels (ACS). The impact of bioaugmentation and TBZ on the bacterial diversity in the NCS was explored via amplicon sequencing. Bioaugmentation effectively removed TBZ from both soils at levels up to 400 mg kg−1 75 Agrobiotechnology