Fábio Sérgio Barbosa da Silva

Soil biochemistry and microbial activity in vineyards under conventional and organic management at Northeast Brazil

The Sao Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO 2 ). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO 2 . Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g -1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm -3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm -3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO 2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost to maximize the production of foliar biomolecules in Passiflora alata Curtis seedlings.

BACKGROUND Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil organisms that associate with plant roots and promote plant growth, increasing the concentration of secondary metabolites, which are molecules of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. Passiflora alata is a Brazilian medicinal plant that is used as a raw material for anxiolytic phytotherapeutic agents. The anxiolytic properties are related to the presence of biomolecules in the plant material, principally flavonoids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with AMF and organic fertilization on the production of soluble carbohydrates and total foliar proteins, phenols and flavonoids in P. alata seedlings. RESULTS There was an effect of the tested treatments on the analyzed variables. Seedlings inoculated and cultivated in soil to which 0.15 kg vermicompost kg(-1) had been added showed increased growth and production of primary and secondary metabolites compared with treatments with lower levels of manure, which did not differ from those cultivated in soil with 0.2 kg vermicompost kg(-1). CONCLUSION The inoculation of P. alata seedlings with Gigaspora albida is an alternative to maximize the production of pharmacologically important foliar biomolecules, especially flavonoids, with benefits that vary in accordance with the fertility of the soil.

Uso de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) na promoção do crescimento de mudas de pinheira (Annona squamosa L., Annonaceae)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be used to promote seedling growth of fruit trees, but their effect on sugar apple is not known. We investigated the role of two isolates of AMF (Acaulospora longula and Gigaspora albida) in promoting the growth of sugar apple seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and four replicates (totaling 24 units): 1) uninoculated control; 2) uninoculated control in fertilized soil; 3) inoculated with A. longula in soil, 4) inoculated with A. longula in fertilized soil, 5) inoculated with G. albida in soil; 6) inoculated with G. albida in fertilized soil. Seedlings with two leaves were inoculated in the region of the roots with soil-inocula with 200 spores of G. albida or A. longula. After 140 days in a greenhouse the height, leaf number, stem diameter, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, root colonization and production of spores were evaluated. The seedlings benefited from G. albida mycorrhiza when grown in unfertilized soil. Mycorrhizal inoculation did not increase the growth of seedlings in soil with vermicompost. The use G. albida is an alternative in the production of sugar apple seedlings, instead of fertilizers.

Production and infectivity of inoculum of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi multiplied in a substrate supplemented with Tris-HCl buffer

The effect of adding Tris-HCl buffer on production and infectivity of AMF inoculum was investigated. Sporulation of Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora longula and Gigaspora albida was improved in solution with buffer. The infectivity of G. etunicatum increased after storage, what suggests that the inoculum of this isolate is benefited by storage.

Production of secondary metabolites by mycorrhizal plants with medicinal or nutritional potential

This review surveys the results of recent studies and concludes that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can increase the production of plant secondary metabolites that have medicinal or nutritional potential.

O papel da comunidade de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) autóctones no desenvolvimento de espécies vegetais nativas em área de dunas de restinga revegetadas no litoral do Estado da Paraíba

Association of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant roots constituted one of the most important ways to mitigate the impact of disturbed area. The aim of this work was to characterize the AMF community in the soil from revegetated dune area and to analyze its influence on the native plant development. Soils were collected in rainfall season in the revegetated area. Glomalin-related soil protein production (GRSP), glomerospores density and diversity were evaluated. The influence of AMF autoctone community was determined for two native plants: Tabebuia roseo-alba (Ridl.) Sandw. (peroba) and Tocoyena selloana Schum. (jenipapo-bravo). Experimental design for each species was completely randomized with 10 replicates, two treatment - native soil (SN) and disinfested native soil (SND) - were tested. Parameters evaluated were: height, shoot diameter, leaf number and area, shoot and root dry mass, nutrient contents, glomerospore density, mycorrhizal colonization and glomalin-related soil protein production (GRSP). In dune revegetated soil was found 1 glomerospore g-1 soil and 1.20 ± 0.04 mg GRSP g-1 soil, and six AMF species were identified. Native soil promoted more development to plant and fungi. Mycorrhizal colonization in peroba was 80% and in jenipapo-bravo 60%. Then, AMF are present in revegetated area after mining contributing to growth of native plant species studied in greenhouse conditions, suggesting that their performance is affected by arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase the Phenolic Compounds Concentration in the Bark of the Stem of Libidibia Ferrea in Field Conditions

Background: Libidibia ferrea is a species particular to the caatinga presenting medicinal properties for containing bioactive compounds. The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can increase the production of biomolecules in the legume leaves; however, no light has been shed on the role of symbiosis in maximizing metabolites production in the bark of L. ferrea stem. Objective: The aim was to select AMF that are efficient at increasing the production of phenolic compounds with medicinal properties in the bark of the L. ferrea stem. Methods: The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four inoculation treatments (plants pre-inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, with Gigaspora albida, with Acaulospora longula, and non-inoculated plants - control) with six repetitions. Thirteen months after the transplanting, the plants were pruned and the bark of the stem was collected; subsequently, this plant material was dried in a chamber. After the drying process, fractions of the bark of the stem were macerated in methanol. The extracts were further used for analyses of the biomolecules. Results: The flavonoids concentration had an increase of, respectively, 236% and 186% in relation to the control for the treatments with A. longula and C. etunicatum; plants inoculated with A. longula had an increase of 47% in total tannins concentration compared with the non-inoculated control - a benefit that the proanthocyanidins did not present. Conclusion: Applying inoculation with A. longula may be an alternative to increase the production of biomolecules of the secondary metabolism in the bark of the L. ferrea stem in field conditions.Background: Libidibia ferrea is a species particular to the caatinga presenting medicinal properties for containing bioactive compounds. The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can increase the production of biomolecules in the legume leaves; however, no light has been shed on the role of symbiosis in maximizing metabolites production in the bark of L. ferrea stem. Objective: The aim was to select AMF that are efficient at increasing the production of phenolic compounds with medicinal properties in the bark of the L. ferrea stem. Methods: The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four inoculation treatments (plants pre-inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, with Gigaspora albida, with Acaulospora longula, and non-inoculated plants – control) with six repetitions. Thirteen months after the transplanting, the plants were pruned and the bark of the stem was collected; subsequently, this plant material was dried in a chamber. After the drying process, fractions of the bark of the stem were macerated in methanol. The extracts were further used for analyses of the biomolecules. Results: The flavonoids concentration had an increase of, respectively, 236% and 186% in relation to the control for the treatments with A. longula and C. etunicatum; plants inoculated with A. longula had an increase of 47% in total tannins concentration compared with the non-inoculated control – a benefit that the proanthocyanidins did not present. Conclusion: Applying inoculation with A. longula may be an alternative to increase the production of biomolecules of the secondary metabolism in the bark of the L. ferrea stem in field conditions.

Is the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi an alternative to increase foliar phenolic compounds in seedlings of Mimosa tenuiflora (Wild.) Poir., Mimosoideae?

The legume Mimosa tenuiflora (Wild) Poir occurs in the “Caatinga” and is used as a popular remedy because of its medicinal properties related to the presence of secondary compounds in several parts of the plant. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with most legumes, including M. tenuiflora, benefiting the growing process and the production of secondary compounds; however, the production of phytochemicals in response to AMF inoculation has not been defined yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of AMF on the production of phenolic compounds in the aerial part of M. tenuiflora. We analyzed the following parameters: height, stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh matter from the aerial part, dry matter from the aerial part, mycorrhizal colonization, soluble carbohydrates, total proteins, total phenols, total flavonoids, and total tannins. The mycorrhizal association did not benefit the growing process and/or the production of secondary compounds, demonstrating that mycorrhizal technology is not always an alternative to increase the production of plant secondary metabolism molecules. This study is the first report on the results of the inefficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis regarding the optimization of phenolic compounds in plants of the “Caatinga”.

Responses of Guava Plants to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Soil Infested with Meloidogyne enterolobii

In the Northeast of Brazil, expansion of guava crops has been impaired by Meloidogyne enterolobii that causes root galls, leaf fall and plant death. Considering the fact that arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) improve plant growth giving protection against damages by plant pathogens, this work was carried out to select AMF efficient to increase production of guava seedlings and their tolerance to M. enterolobii. Seedlings of guava were inoculated with 200 spores of Gigaspora albida, Glomus etunicatum or Acaulospora longula and 55 days later with 4,000 eggs of M. enterolobii. The interactions between the AMF and M. enterolobii were assessed by measuring leaf number, aerial dry biomass, CO2 evolution and arbuscular and total mycorrhizal colonization. In general, plant growth was improved by the treatments with A. longula or with G. albida. The presence of the nematode decreased arbuscular colonization and increased general enzymatic activity. Higher dehydrogenase activity occurred with the A. longula treatment and CO2 evolution was higher in the control with the nematode. More spores and higher production of glomalin-related soil proteins were observed in the treatment with G. albida. The numbers of galls, egg masses and eggs were reduced in the presence of A. longula. Inoculation with this fungus benefitted plant growth and decreased nematode reproduction.

Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi during the Acclimatization of Alpinia purpurata to Induce Tolerance to Meloidogyne arenaria

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the tolerance of micropropagated and mycorrhized alpinia plants to the parasite Meloidogyne arenaria. The experimental design was completely randomized with a factorial arrangement of four inoculation treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Gigaspora albida, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Acaulospora longula, and a non-inoculated control) in the presence or absence of M. arenaria with five replicates. The following characteristics were evaluated after 270 days of mycorrhization and 170 days of M. arenaria inoculation: height, number of leaves and tillers, fresh mass of aerial and subterranean parts, dry mass of aerial parts, foliar area, nutritional content, mycorrhizal colonization, AMF sporulation, and the number of galls, egg masses, and eggs. The results indicated a significant interaction between the treatments for AMF spore density, total mycorrhizal colonization, and nutrient content (Zn, Na, and N), while the remaining parameters were influenced by either AMF or nematodes. Plants inoculated with A. longula or C. etunicatum exhibited greater growth than the control. Lower N content was observed in plants inoculated with AMF, while Zn and Na were found in larger quantities in plants inoculated with C. etunicatum. Fewer galls were observed on mycorrhized plants, and egg mass production and the number of eggs were lower in plants inoculated with G. albida. Plants inoculated with A. longula showed a higher percentage of total mycorrhizal colonization in the presence of the nematode. Therefore, the association of micropropagated alpinia plants and A. longula enhanced tolerance to parasitism by M. arenaria.