Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Assemblages in Conservation Unit of Atlantic Forest Areas Under Native Vegetation and Natural Regeneration.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in the dynamic of plant community in the south American Atlantic Rainforest biome. Even in protected areas, this biome is under several anthropic impacts, which can cause shifts in the soil microbiota, including AMF. This study aimed to determine the structure and composition of AMF community in areas of native Atlantic Forest and in natural regeneration and to identify which abiotic factors are influencing this community in these areas. Soil samples were collected at Monte Pascoal National and Historical Park, in Southern Bahia, in native and natural regeneration areas of Atlantic Forest in two seasons (rainy and dry). Greater number of glomerospores and richness and diversity of AMF were found in the area under regeneration, with differences between seasons being observed only for the number of glomerospores. Seventy-seven species of AMF were recorded, considering all areas and seasons, with Acaulospora and Glomus being the most representative genera. Greater abundance of species of the genera Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, and Septoglomus was found in the regeneration area. The AMF community differed between the study areas, but not between seasons, with soil attributes (pH, K, Al, Mg, m, and clay) structuring factors for this difference in the AMF community. Atlantic Forest areas in natural regeneration and the soil edaphic factors provide changes in the structure and composition of the AMF community, increasing the richness and diversity of these fungi in conservation units.

Mycorrhizal inoculation as an alternative for the sustainable production of Mimosa tenuiflora seedlings with improved growth and secondary compounds content.

In this study, we report the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and increasing doses of phosphorus (P) on the growth and production of secondary metabolites in Mimosa tenuiflora, a medicinal species native to Brazil. We used a completely randomized design with four inoculation treatments: Control not inoculated (1); Claroideoglomus etunicatum (2); Gigaspora albida (3); and C. etunicatum + G. albida (4) and four doses of P; P0 - baseline dose, P8, P16 and P32. After 70 d in a greenhouse, growth, mycorrhizal variables, biochemical and phytochemical parameters were evaluated. Compared to non-mycorrhizal plants, mycorrhized M. tenuiflora seedlings showed greater: growth, greater photosynthetic performance and content of soluble carbohydrates and secondary metabolites, with the most significant benefits occurring in soil with low to moderate P content (up to 16 mg kg-1). The plant growth is severely restricted at low P levels, but the addition of AMF appears to remove this limiting factor. Although M. tenuiflora responds to levels of phosphate fertilization, it responds well to mycorrhizal inoculation, especially with G. albida, which promotes benefits for the initial growth and secondary metabolite content in this plant species of medical and potential commercial interest and may be used instead of phosphate fertilizer.

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.

Symbiotic compatibility between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (autoctone or exotic) and three native species of the Caatinga in different phosphorus levels / Compatibilidade simbiótica entre fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (autóctone ou exótico) e três espécies nativas da Caatinga em diferentes níveis de fósforo

The aim of this study was to evaluate three plant species native to Caatinga (Aspidosperma pyrifolium, Ziziphus joazeiro and Pseudobombax simplicifolium) in response to inoculation with two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (autoctone: Claroideoglomus etunicatum or exotic: Acaulospora longula) and phosphate fertilization. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a completely randomized design involving a factorial arrangement of three inoculation treatments (control, C. etunicatum or A. longula) and 4 levels of single superphosphate (0 - no added P2O5, 12, 24 and 48 mg dm-3) in 10 repetitions. Under the conditions of this study, the inoculum of C. etunicatum, autoctone to the semi-arid region, showed great compatibility and efficiency in promoting plant growth and nutrient intake when compared to the exotic inoculum of A. longula. Plants of A. pyrifolium were not responsive to mycorrhization and phosphate fertilization. In soil with low phosphorus content, mycorrhized plants of Z. joazeiro and P. simplicifolium presented better vegetative development with high shoot dry weight. Mycorrhized plants of Z. joazeiro had a proportional increase in the levels of macro- and micronutrients at the phosphorus doses applied. Mycorrhizal symbiosis may have a fundamental role in the development of these species from the Caatinga.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de três espécies vegetais nativas da Caatinga (Aspidosperma pyrifolium, Ziziphus joazeiro e Pseudobombax simplicifolium) em resposta à inoculação com dois fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (autóctone: Claroideoglomus etunicatum ou exótico: Acaulospora longula) e adubação fosfatada. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial com três tratamentos de inoculação (Controle, C. etunicatum ou A. longula) e quatro doses de superfosfato simples (0 - sem adição de P2O5, 12, 24 e 48 mg dm -3), em dez repetições. Nas condições deste estudo, o inóculo de C. etunicatum, autóctone da região semiárida, demonstrou maior compatibilidade e eficiência na promoção do crescimento e nutrição das plantas quando comparado ao inóculo exótico de A. longula. Plantas de A. pyrifolium não foram responsivas à micorrização e adubação fosfatada. Em solo com menor teor de fósforo as plantas de Z. joazeiro e P. simplicifolium micorrizadas apresentaram melhor desenvolvimento vegetativo, com elevada produção de biomassa seca da parte aérea. Plantas de Z. joazeiro micorrizadas tiveram aumento nos teores de macro e micronutrientes proporcional às doses de fósforo aplicadas. Conclui-se que simbiose micorrízica pode ter papel fundamental no desenvolvimento destas espécies nativas da 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.

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.

O efeito da adição do tampão Tris-HCl na produção e infectividade de inóculo foi investigado. A esporulação de Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora longula e Gigaspora albida foi incrementada utilizando solução com tampão. A infectividade de G. etunicatum aumentou após estocagem, sugerindo que o inóculo deste isolado é beneficiado pelo armazenamento.