Marlon da Silva Garrido

Characterization of streptomycetes with potential to promote plant growth and biocontrol

Studies with streptomycetes in biocontrol programs and plant growth promotion are presented as technological alternatives for environmental sustainable production. This work has the objective of characterizing six isolates of streptomycetes aiming the production of extracellular enzymes, indole acetic acid, capacity for phosphate solubilization, root colonization and growth under different pH and salinity levels. For detection of enzyme activity the isolates were grown in culture media with the enzyme substrates as sole carbon source. The root colonization assay was performed on tomato seedlings grown on 0.6% water-agar medium. Growth under different pH and salinity levels was evaluated in AGS medium with 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% NaCl, and pH levels adjusted to 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0. All isolates produced the enzymes amylase, catalase, and lipase, as well as indole acetic acid. With one exception (AC-92), all isolates presented cellulolytic and chitinolytic activity, and only AC-26 did not show xylanolytic activity. The isolates AC-147, AC-95, and AC-29 were the highest producers of siderophores. The isolates AC-26 and AC-29 did not show capacity for phosphate solubilization. All isolates colonized tomato roots in vitro, and AC-92 grew under all pH and salinity levels tested. The streptomycetes tested were considered as potential biocontrol and plant growth promotion agents.

Production of streptomycete inoculum in sterilized rice

Actinomycetes are important plant disease control and growth promotion agents, which makes it necessary to develop technology to produce large quantities of inoculum for green-house and field work. The present study had the objective of evaluating the growth of several isolates of Streptomyces in sterile rice for inoculum production. The sterile rice was inoculated with isolates of S. thermotolerans, S. griseus subsp. griseus, Streptomyces sp. N0035, S. purpurascens, and Streptomyces sp., and incubated at 28 ± 2oC. Five days after its inoculation, mycelial growth and sporulation was observed for all Streptomyces isolates on the rice grains. Twelve days after incubation, the colonized rice was transferred to envelopes of dark brown paper and let to dry in an incubator at 30oC for three days. After drying, 1g of colonized rice was added to 200 mL of sterile distilled water and the number of spores was counted under a microscope with a Newbauer counting chamber. Spore production varied from 0.14 × 109 to 1.47 × 109 spores per gram of rice and differed among the Streptomyces species. Sterile rice can be an alternative substrate for low cost mass production of Streptomyces inoculum.

Produção de mudas de tomateiro em substrato orgânico inoculado e incubado com estreptomicetos

This work had the objective of evaluating the effect of inoculation and incubation of a potting soil with streptomycetes in growth promotion of tomato seedlings. The first experiment was conducted with four streptomycete isolates, with and without incubation for 20 days. The experimental design was entirely randomized with 15 replications, in a factorial squeme (5 x 2). The inoculation and incubation of the potting mix promotted a significant increase in plant height, root and shoot dry weight, and plant nutrient levels. In the second experiment, the inoculation with the two best isolates, in five different incubation periods (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days) was evaluated for growth of tomato seedlings in the same potting growth mix, using an entirely randomized experimental design with 8 replications and a factorial scheme 3 x 5. Forty three days was considered to be the best incubation period, suggesting that this may be the time necessary for the streptomycete isolates to colonize and act in the decomposition of the organic matter, improving nutrient uptake by the roots, and promoting plant growth.

Predatory ability of Arthrobotrys musiformis and Monacrosporium thaumasium on Scutellonema bradys

Scutellonema bradys (Steiner & LeHew) Andrassy is the most important yam nematode in the State of Bahia, Brazil, being responsible for the decay of yam tubers, known as dry rot disease. Nematode-trapping fungi are potential biocontrol agents against plant parasitic nematodes. The in vitro predatory ability of Arthrobotrys musiformis Drechsler and Monacrosporium thaumasium Drechsler on S. bradys was evaluated. The fungi were grown in PDA medium, than transferred to the center of Petri dishes with 2% agar plus water. After 14 days of the fungal cultures incubation, 150 nematodes were added to the dishes. For a period of 5 days, at 24-hour intervals, the number of captured nematodes was counted. Both fungi formed trapping structures of single ring and three-dimensional adhesive network types, 24 hours after the addition of the nematodes to the fungal cultures. The percentage of nematodes captured by each fungus increased linearly with time, reaching 94.6% and 97.3% of captured nematodes by A. musiformis and M. thaumasium, respectively, at the fifth day of evaluation. Both fungi presented good predatory ability upon S. bradys. This is the first report of nematophagous fungi capturing S. bradys. Further studies should evaluate the potential of these fungi as biocontrol agents of S. bradys in yam plantations.

Isolados de estreptomicetos no crescimento e nutrição de mudas de tomateiro

Streptomycetes are known for producing secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics and extracellular enzymes, that act in the degradation of complex and recalcitrant molecules, playing an important role in composting processes. Thus, to evaluate the effect of soil inoculation and incubation with streptomycete isolates, in the initial growth stage of tomato seedlings, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with six streptomycete isolates and a non-inoculated control. The soil was inoculated and incubated for 20 days, before planting. After 30 days, the seedlings were collected for determination of seedling height, stem diameter, dry weight of shoots and roots, and nutrients accumulation in shoots. The streptomycete isolates promoted significant increments in the growth and nutrients contents of tomato seedlings. It is suggested that the 35-days incubation period of the inoculated soil, before planting, promotes the time necessary for the streptomycetes to act in the mineralization of soil organic matter, providing nutrients for plants growth. KEY-WORDS: Actinomycetes; growth promotion; Lycopersicum esculentum (L.) Santa Clara.

Scutellonema bradys em Cará-Doce (Dioscorea trifida L.)

, conhecida popularmentecomo cara-doce, possui seu centro de origem no Norte da Ameri-ca do Sul, sendo cultivada em varias regioes do nordeste brasi-leiro. A planta produz um grupo de pequenas tuberas com 15-20cm de comprimento, pesando 80-150g, com massa feculenta bran-ca, amarela, rosa ou purpura (6). Dentre as nematoses, a cascapreta causada pelo nematoide