Root colonization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition in a genetically modified maize, its non-modified isoline, and a landrace.

The use of genetically modified (GM) plants has increased in recent decades, but there are uncertainties about their effects on soil microbial communities. Aiming to quantify root colonization and characterize arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities associated with roots and rhizosphere soil of different maize genotypes, a field trial was carried out in Southern Brazil with three maize genotypes as follows: a GM hybrid (DKB 240 VTPRO), its non-modified isoline (DKB 240), and a landrace (Pixurum). Soil samples were collected to evaluate the occurrence of AMF during the growth of corn genotypes at sowing and V3 (vegetative), R1 (flowering), and R3 (grain formation) stages of the crop. The occurrence of AMF was determined by the morphological identification of spores, and by analyzing AMF community composition in soil and roots of maize, using PCR-DGGE. The GM genotype of maize promoted lower mycorrhizal colonization in the vegetative stage and had lower sporulation at grain development than the conventional hybrid and the landrace maize. Twenty AMF morphotypes were identified and 13 were associated with all maize genotypes. The genera Acaulospora, Glomus, and Dentiscutata had the largest numbers of species. There were no differences in AMF community composition due to maize genotypes or genetic modification, but crop phenological stages affected AMF communities associated with maize roots.

Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 enumeration by quantitative PCR assay in microcapsules with full-fat goat milk and inulin-type fructans.

The current study was conducted to develop a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 quantification in microcapsules matrix with full-fat goat milk and inulin-type fructans. DNA was isolated from milk, feed solutions (before spray drying) and microcapsules (after spray drying) using DNAzol. Two primer pairs targeting Bal-23S or Tuf sequences were evaluated by qPCR. The qPCR efficiency was higher (89.5%) using the Tuf primers than Bal-23S primers (84.8%). Tuf primer pair was able to selectively detect B. animalis ssp. lactis BB-12. After, quantification of bifidobacteria in the microcapsules matrix by Tuf qPCR assay was compared to conventional enumeration by plate counting. The analysis of probiotic feed solutions and microcapsules showed higher (P < 0.05) bacterial enumeration determined by Tuf qPCR assay compared to those obtained by plate counting. This qPCR assay was considered a rapid and sensitive alternative for the quantification of B. animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 in probiotic microcapsules compared to plate counting.

Communities of endophytic microorganisms in different developmental stages from a local variety as well as transgenic and conventional isogenic hybrids of maize.

The diversity of endophytic microorganisms may change due to the genotype of the host plant and its phenological stage. In this study we evaluated the effect of phenological stage, transgenes and genetic composition of maize on endophytic bacterial and fungal communities. The maize populations were composed of a local variety named Rosado (RS) and three isogenic hybrids. One isogenic hybrid was not genetically modified (NGM). Another hybrid (Hx) contained the transgenes cry1F and pat (T1507 event), which provide resistance to insects of the order Lepidoptera and tolerance to the glufosinate-ammonium herbicide, respectively. The third hybrid (Hxrr) contained the transgene cp4 epsps (NK603 event) combined with the transgenes cry1F and pat (T1507 event), which allow tolerance to the Roundup Ready herbicide, besides the characteristics of Hx. Evaluation of the foliar tissue was done through PCR-DGGE analysis, with specific primers for bacteria and fungi within four phenological stages of maize. The endophytic bacteria were only clustered by phenological stages; the structure of the fungal community was clustered by maize genotypes in each phenological stage. The fungal community from the local variety RS was different from the three hybrids (NGM, Hx and Hxrr) within the four evaluated stages. In the reproductive stage, the fungal community from the two transgenic hybrids (Hx and Hxrr) were separated, and the Hxrr was different from NGM, in the two field experiments. This research study showed that the genetic composition of the maize populations, especially the presence of transgenes, is the determining factor for the changes detected in the endophytic fungal community of maize leaves.

Biorremediação de um solo contaminado com antraceno sob diferentes condições físicas e químicas / Bioremediation of a soil contaminated with anthracene under different chemical and physical conditions

O antraceno e os demais hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (HAPs) podem ser removidos do solo pela biorremediação, cuja eficiência é limitada se as condições físicas e químicas não forem favoráveis à sobrevivência e à atividade dos microrganismos degradadores. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência do pH, da umidade e da disponibilidade de nitrogênio, de fósforo, de ferro e de enxofre na biorremediação de um solo contaminado com antraceno. Para tanto, amostras de um solo arenoso foram contaminadas em laboratório com 500mg kg-1 de antraceno e a mineralização desse poluente foi quantificada por respirometria. As maiores mineralizações ocorreram nos tratamentos com as maiores umidades e os pH avaliados. A adição de 100kg ha-1 ou mais de nitrogênio no solo e a redução da relação C HAP-N para valores inferiores a 120:17 diminuíram a mineralização do antraceno. O aumento da disponibilidade do fósforo, do ferro e do enxofre e a presença de amplas relações C HAP:P no solo não influenciaram a mineralização do antraceno. A correção do pH e o adequado fornecimento de água possibilitaram a biorremediação desse solo em curto período de tempo.

The anthracene, as well as the others polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), can be removed from the soil by bioremediation, whose efficiency is limited under unfavorable physical and chemical conditions to the survival and activity of the microbial degraders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of pH, water content, and nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and sulfur concentrations in the bioremediation of a soil contaminated with anthracene. Samples of a sandy soil were contaminated in laboratory with anthracene (500mg kg-1) and the mineralization was evaluated by respirometry. The highest anthracene mineralization was verified in the soil with the highest water content and pH value studied. The addition of 100kg ha-1 nitrogen in the soil and the consequent reduction of CPAH-N ratio to values lesser than 120:17 reduced anthracene mineralization. The increase of phosphorus iron and sulfur availability and wide CPAH-P (120:1 to 120:22) ratios in the soil did not influence anthracene mineralization. The pH correction and appropriate water supply made possible the bioremediation of the soil polluted with anthracene in a short period of time.