The Biotechnological Potential of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Isolated from Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivations in the San Martin Region, Peru.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an essential commodity for global food security and the agricultural economy, particularly in regions such as San Martin, Peru. This study investigated the plant growth-promoting characteristics of native rhizobacteria isolated from maize crops in the San Martin region of Peru with the aim of identifying microorganisms with biotechnological potential. Soil and root samples were collected from maize plants in four productive zones in the region: Lamas, El Dorado, Picota, and Bellavista. The potential of twelve bacterial isolates was evaluated through traits, such as biological nitrogen fixation, indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production, and a completely randomized design was used for these assays. A completely randomized block design was employed to assess the effects of bacterial strains and nitrogen doses on maize seedlings. The B3, B5, and NSM3 strains, as well as maize seeds of the yellow hard 'Advanta 9139' variety, were used in this experiment. Two of these isolates, B5 and NSM3, exhibited outstanding characteristics as plant growth promoters; these strains were capable of nitrogen fixation, IAA production (35.65 and 26.94 µg mL-1, respectively), phosphate solubilization (233.91 and 193.31 µg mL-1, respectively), and siderophore production (34.05 and 89.19%, respectively). Furthermore, molecular sequencing identified the NSM3 isolate as belonging to Sporosarcina sp. NSM3 OP861656, while the B5 isolate was identified as Peribacillus sp. B5 OP861655. These strains show promising potential for future use as biofertilizers, which could promote more sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Plukenetia volubilis Growth and Decrease the Infection Levels of Meloidogyne incognita.

The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) offers promising benefits to agriculture in the Amazon regions, where soils are characteristically acidic and nutrient-poor. The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential effects of two recently described species of AMF (Nanoglomus plukenetiae and Rhizoglomus variabile) native to the Peruvian Amazon for improving the plant growth of Plukenetia volubilis (inka nut or sacha inchi) and protecting the roots against soil pathogens. Two assays were simultaneously conducted under greenhouse conditions in Peru. The first focused on evaluating the biofertilizer effect of AMF inoculation, while the second examined the bioprotective effect against the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Overall, the results showed that AMF inoculation of P. volubilis seedlings positively improved their development, particularly their biomass, height, and the leaf nutrient contents. When seedlings were exposed to M. incognita, plant growth was also noticeably higher for AMF-inoculated plants than those without AMF inoculation. Nematode reproduction was significantly suppressed by the presence of AMF, in particular R. variabile, and especially when inoculated prior to nematode exposure. The dual AMF inoculation did not necessarily lead to improved crop growth but notably improved P and K leaf contents. The findings provide strong justification for the development of products based on AMF as agro-inputs to catalyze nutrient use and uptake and protect crops against pests and diseases, especially those that are locally adapted to local crops and cropping conditions.

Draft genome sequence of Agrobacterium pusense strain CMT1: A promising growth-promoting bacterium isolated from nodules of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) crops for the One Health approach in Paraguay.

Strain CMT1 was isolated from nodules of non-inoculated Roundup Ready (RR) soybean plants (Glycine max L. Merrill), which were collected in fields in Itauguá, Paraguay. The genome of this strain had 338,984,909 bp; 59.2 % G + C content; 377648 bp N50; 5 L50; 55 contigs; 51 RNAs and 5,272 predicted coding DNA sequences (CDS) distributed in 327 subsystems. Based on overall genome-relatedness indices (OGRIs), this strain was taxonomically affiliated with Agrobacterium pusense. Based on genome mining, strain CMT1 is a promising plant growth-promoting bacterium that could be validated in agricultural fields for increasing soybean yield and quality, diminishing the economic, environmental, and health costs of non-sustainable food production.

Use of systemic biofertilizers in sugarcane results in highly reproducible increments in yield and quality of harvests.

The utilization of a novel (systemic) biofertilizer containing Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azospirillum brasilense, and Bacillus subtilis and possessing the technology to facilitate the entry of bacteria through the stomata, was evaluated at three localities in Mexico (Potrero Nuevo, Veracruz; Ameca, Jalisco; and Champotón, Campeche) in two sugarcane varieties (NCO-310 and Mex 57-473) at different time scales. Inoculation of the systemic biofertilizer was imposed over the local agricultural management of the sugarcane; chemical fertilization of the experimental parcels at Potrero Nuevo was done using 70-20-20 and 120-80-80 at Ameca and Champotón. Three doses of the biofertilizer per hectare were applied during the annual productive cycle of sugarcane at each site; one year at Potrero Nuevo and Champotón; and six years at Ameca. The annual sugarcane yield was evaluated at each site. Additionally, sugar quality (°Brix or sucrose content) was evaluated at the three localities, while different variables of stalk performance were also measured at Ameca and Champotón. Our data provide evidence that this systemic biofertilizer consistently and reliably increased the sugarcane yield at all localities during the time of evaluation, ranging from 73.7 tons ha-1 at Potrero Nuevo (2.5 times increase; P < 0.05) and 77.7 tons ha-1 at Ameca (1.9 times increase; P < 0.05) to 23.8 tons ha-1 at Champotón (1.4 times increase; P < 0.05). This increase in sugarcane biomass was related to increased tillering rather than increased stalk height or diameter. This novel biological product improved the sugarcane quality in terms of °Brix (P < 0.05, 2.6° difference) and sucrose content (P < 0.5, 0.7% difference).

Rhizoglomus variabile and Nanoglomus plukenetiae, Native to Peru, Promote Coffee Growth in Western Amazonia.

Coffee (Coffea arabica) is among the world's most economically important crops. Coffee was shown to be highly dependent on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in traditionally managed coffee plantations in the tropics. The objective of this study was to assess AMF species richness in coffee plantations of four provinces in Perú, to isolate AMF isolates native to these provinces, and to test the effects of selected indigenous AMF strains on coffee growth. AMF species were identified by morphological tools on the genus level, and if possible further to the species level. Two native species, Rhizoglomus variabile and Nanoglomus plukenetiae, recently described from the Peruvian mountain ranges, were successfully cultured in the greenhouse on host plants. In two independent experiments, both species were assessed for their ability to colonize coffee seedlings and improve coffee growth over 135 days. A total of 35 AMF morphospecies were identified from 12 plantations. The two inoculated species effectively colonized coffee roots, which resulted in 3.0-8.6 times higher shoot, root and total biomass, when compared to the non-mycorrhizal controls. R. variabile was superior to N. plukenetiae in all measured parameters, increasing shoot, root, and total biomass dry weight by 4.7, 8.6 and 5.5 times, respectively. The dual inoculation of both species, however, did not further improve plant growth, when compared to single-species inoculations. The colonization of coffee by either R. variabile or N. plukenetiae strongly enhances coffee plant growth. R. variabile, in particular, offers enormous potential for improving coffee establishment and productivity. Assessment of further AMF species, including species from other AMF families should be considered for optimization of coffee growth promotion, both alone and in combination with R. variabile.

Sustainable removal of nutrients (n and p) in a wastewater treatment plant, with eggshell (biocalcium).

Biological treatments have become insufficient to treat municipal wastewater with greater toxicity and excess nitrogen and phosphate species, thus affecting the organisms that consume the water. In this work, a process was implemented for the removal of nutrients through three stages: stage A, complete aeration (24 h, 43 months); stage B, decreased aeration (12 h, 17 months); and stage C, decreased aeration with biocalcium (12 h, 19 months). The addition of biocalcium from eggshell promoted the formation of flocks, which resulted in the removal of nitrites (61 %), nitrates (84 %), total nitrogen (57 %), total phosphorus (8.3 %), sedimentable solids (50 %), total suspended solids (69 %), BOD5 (76 %), helminth eggs (50 %) and fecal coliforms (54 %). The statistical analyses in the three stages indicated that there is a strong correlation between the concentration of fats and oils and the removal of sedimentable solids and total suspended solids, since these parameters were correlated by 97 and 89 %, respectively. Sedimentable solids were correlated with total suspended solids by 94 %, while nitrates and total nitrogen were correlated 92 %, which favors the removal of nutrients in wastewater. The increase in the concentration of nitrogen in the sludge in stage C generated a C:N ratio of 7.98. This ratio shows that the sludge is feasible for use as a mediator of soils and a biofertilizer because of the high contents of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen. In addition, biocalcium promoted the precipitation of hydroxyapatite, struvite, calcite and quartz. In general, the three stages of the treatment contributed to the stabilization of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in an efficient, economical, and safe way.

Identification of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from fishponds and their performance to remove hydrogen sulfide under aquarium conditions.

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic gas that causes many economic losses in aquaculture ponds. The application of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) to remove hydrogen sulfide is an eco-friendly approach. This study aimed to isolate and identify the most efficient SOBs from the sediment of warm-water fish farms. Enrichment and isolation were performed in three different culture media (Starkey, Postgate, and H-3) based on both mineral and organic carbon. Overall, 27 isolates (14 autotrophic and 13 heterotrophic isolates) were purified based on colony and cell morphology differences. Initial screening was performed based on pH decrease. For final screening, the isolates were assessed based on their efficacy in thiosulfate oxidation and the sulfate production on Starkey liquid medium. Among isolated strains, 3 strains of Iran 2 (FH-13), Iran 3 (FH-21), and Iran 1 (FH-14) that belonged to Thiobacillus thioparus species (identified by 16s rRNA) showed the highest ability in thiosulfate oxidation (413.21, 1362.50, and 4188.03 mg/L for 14 days) and the highest sulfate production (3350, 2075, and 1600 mg/L). In the final phase, the performance of these strains under aquarium conditions showed that Iran 1 and Iran 2 had the highest ability in sulfur oxidation. In conclusion, Iran 1 and 2 strains can be used as effective SOB to remove hydrogen sulfide in fish farms. It is very important to evaluate strains in an appropriate strategy using a combination of different criteria to ensure optimal performance of SOB in farm conditions.

Cost-Effective Cultivation of Native PGPB Sinorhizobium Strains in a Homemade Bioreactor for Enhanced Plant Growth.

The implementation of bioreactor systems for the production of bacterial inoculants as biofertilizers has become very important in recent decades. However, it is essential to know the bacterial growth optimal conditions to optimize the production and efficiency of bioinoculants. The aim of this work was to identify the best nutriment and mixing conditions to improve the specific cell growth rates (µ) of two PGPB (plant growth-promoting bacteria) rhizobial strains at the bioreactor level. For this purpose, the strains Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG-R7T and Sinorhizobium chiapanecum ITTG-S70T were previously reactivated in a PY-Ca2+ (peptone casein, yeast extract, and calcium) culture medium. Afterward, a master cell bank (MCB) was made in order to maintain the viability and quality of the strains. The kinetic characterization of each bacterial strain was carried out in s shaken flask. Then, the effect of the carbon and nitrogen sources and mechanical agitation was evaluated through a factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM) for cell growth optimization, where µ was considered a response variable. The efficiency of biomass production was determined in a homemade bioreactor, taking into account the optimal conditions obtained during the experiment conducted at the shaken flask stage. In order to evaluate the biological quality of the product obtained in the bioreactor, the bacterial strains were inoculated in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Jamapa) plants under bioclimatic chamber conditions. The maximum cell growth rate in both PGPB strains was obtained using a Y-Ca2+ (yeast extract and calcium) medium and stirred at 200 and 300 rpm. Under these growth conditions, the Sinorhizobium strains exhibited a high nitrogen-fixing capacity, which had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on the growth of the test plants. The bioreactor system was found to be an efficient alternative for the large-scale production of PGPB rhizobial bacteria, which are intended for use as biofertilizers in agriculture.

Meta-omics integration approach reveals the effect of soil native microbiome diversity in the performance of inoculant Azospirillum brasilense.

Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been used as integrative inputs to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers. However, a holistic comprehension about PGPB-plant-microbiome interactions is still incipient. Furthermore, the interaction among PGPB and the holobiont (host-microbiome association) represent a new frontier to plant breeding programs. We aimed to characterize maize bulk soil and rhizosphere microbiomes in irradiated soil (IS) and a native soil (NS) microbial community gradient (dilution-to-extinction) with Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5, a PGPB commercial inoculant. Our hypothesis was that plant growth promotion efficiency is a result of PGPB niche occupation and persistence according to the holobiont conditions. The effects of Ab-V5 and NS microbial communities were evaluated in microcosms by a combined approach of microbiomics (species-specific qPCR, 16S rRNA metataxonomics and metagenomics) and plant phenomics (conventional and high-throughput methods). Our results revealed a weak maize growth promoting effect of Ab-V5 inoculation in undiluted NS, contrasting the positive effects of NS dilutions 10-3, 10-6, 10-9 and IS with Ab-V5. Alpha diversity in NS + Ab-V5 soil samples was higher than in all other treatments in a time course of 25 days after sowing (DAS). At 15 DAS, alpha diversity indexes were different between NS and IS, but similar in all NS dilutions in rhizospheric samples. These differences were not persistent at 25 DAS, demonstrating a stabilization process in the rhizobiomes. In NS 10-3 +Ab-V5 and NS 10-6 Ab-V5, Ab-V5 persisted in the maize rhizosphere until 15 DAS in higher abundances compared to NS. In NS + Ab-V5, abundance of six taxa were positively correlated with response to (a)biotic stresses in plant-soil interface. Genes involved in bacterial metabolism of riboses and amino acids, and cresol degradation were abundant on NS 10-3 + Ab-V5, indicating that these pathways can contribute to plant growth promotion and might be a result of Ab-V5 performance as a microbial recruiter of beneficial functions to the plant. Our results demonstrated the effects of holobiont on Ab-V5 performance. The meta-omics integration supported by plant phenomics opens new perspectives to better understanding of inoculants-holobiont interaction and for developing better strategies for optimization in the use of microbial products.

Isolation and characterization of novel potassium-solubilizing purple nonsulfur bacteria from acidic paddy soils using culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques.

The current research as aimed (i) to isolate and select the purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) possessing the potassium-solubilizing ability from acid paddy fields and (ii) to evaluate the ability to release the plant growth-promoting substances (PGPS) of selected PNSB. A total of 35 acid sulfate (AS) soil samples were collected in An Giang province, Vietnam. Then, 70 PNSB strains were isolated from the AS soil samples. In the current study, the isolated strains were screened and selected according to their tolerability to acidic conditions, ability to solubilize potassium, and characteristics of a plant growth promoter on basic isolation media with various incubation conditions. Therein, three strains, TT07.4, AN05.1, and AC04.1, presented the highest potassium solubilization under the microaerobic light (11.8-17.7 mg L-1) and aerobic dark (16.4-24.7 mg L-1) conditions and stresses from Al3+, Fe2+, and Mn2+ toxicity. The selected strains were identified as Rhodopseudomonas pentothenatexigens by the 16S rDNA sequence, with 99% similarity. The selected acidic-resistant strains possessed the traits of biofertilizers under both microaerobic light and aerobic dark conditions, with abilities to fix nitrogen (0.17-6.24; 7.93-11.2 mg L-1); solubilize phosphorus from insoluble compounds with 3.22-49.9 and 9.49-11.2 mg L-1 for Al-P, 21.9-25.8 and 20.2-25.1 mg L-1 for Ca-P, and 10.1-29.8 and 18.9-23.2 mg L-1 for Fe-P; produce 5-aminolevulinic acid (0.63-3.01; 1.19-6.39 mg L-1), exopolymeric substances (0.14-0.76; 0.21-0.86 mg L-1), indole-3-acetic acid (12.9-32.6; 13.6-17.8 mg L-1), and siderophores (28.4-30.3; 6.15-10.3%). The selected potassium-solubilizing strains have a great potential to apply in liquid form into rice seed and solid form in AS soils to supply nutrients and PGPS for enhancing rice growth and grain yield.

Effect of a native bacterial consortium on growth, yield, and grain quality of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) under different nitrogen rates in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico.

A field experiment was carried out to quantify the effect of a native bacterial inoculant on the growth, yield, and quality of the wheat crop, under different nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates in two agricultural seasons. Wheat was sown under field conditions at the Experimental Technology Transfer Center (CETT-910), as a representative wheat crop area from the Yaqui Valley, Sonora México. The experiment was conducted using different doses of nitrogen (0, 130, and 250 kg N ha-1) and a bacterial consortium (BC) (Bacillus subtilis TSO9, B. cabrialesii subsp. tritici TSO2T, B. subtilis TSO22, B. paralicheniformis TRQ65, and Priestia megaterium TRQ8). Results showed that the agricultural season affected chlorophyll content, spike size, grains per spike, protein content, and whole meal yellowness. The highest chlorophyll and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values, as well as lower canopy temperature values, were observed in treatments under the application of 130 and 250 kg N ha-1 (the conventional Nitrogen dose). Wheat quality parameters such as yellow berry, protein content, Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-Sedimentation, and whole meal yellowness were affected by the N dose. Moreover, the application of the native bacterial consortium, under 130 kg N ha-1, resulted in a higher spike length and grain number per spike, which led to a higher yield (+1.0 ton ha-1 vs. un-inoculated treatment), without compromising the quality of grains. In conclusion, the use of this bacterial consortium has the potential to significantly enhance wheat growth, yield, and quality while reducing the nitrogen fertilizer application, thereby offering a promising agro-biotechnological alternative for improving wheat production.

A Look at Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria.

Bacteria have been used to increase crop yields. For their application on crops, bacteria are provided in inoculant formulations that are continuously changing, with liquid- and solid-based products. Bacteria for inoculants are mainly selected from natural isolates. In nature, microorganisms that favor plants exhibit various strategies to succeed and prevail in the rhizosphere, such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and siderophore production. On the other hand, plants have strategies to maintain beneficial microorganisms, such as the exudation of chemoattractanst for specific microorganisms and signaling pathways that regulate plant-bacteria interactions. Transcriptomic approaches are helpful in attempting to elucidate plant-microorganism interactions. Here, we present a review of these issues.

Biological Efficacy of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi: Assessments in Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions.

Utilizing the interactions of microorganisms with plants offers a favorable path to increase crop production and replace the use of synthetic fertilizers. Different bacteria and fungi have been used as biofertilizers to improve agricultural production, yield, and sustainability. Beneficial microorganisms can act as free-living organisms, symbiotes, and endophytes. Soil bacteria called plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) stimulate the growth and health of plants by direct and indirect mechanisms including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, phytohormone production, enzyme production, antibiotic synthesis, and induced systemic resistance. To use these microorganisms as a biofertilizer, it is necessary to assess their efficacy under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Few reports detail the methods used to develop a test under different environmental conditions, and without these details it is difficult to develop suitable methodologies to evaluate microorganism-plant relationships. We describe four protocols that go from sample preparation to testing in vitro the efficacy of different biofertilizers. Each protocol can be used to test a different biofertilizer microorganism, focusing on bacteria such as Rhizobium sp., Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Bacillus sp. as well as AMF such as Glomus sp. These protocols can be used in several stages of biofertilizer development, including microorganism selection, microorganism characterization, and in vitro evaluation of efficacy for the registration process. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on PGPB under laboratory conditions Basic Protocol 2: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on PGPB under greenhouse conditions Basic Protocol 3: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria Basic Protocol 4: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on AMF.

Microalgae-Based Biotechnology as Alternative Biofertilizers for Soil Enhancement and Carbon Footprint Reduction: Advantages and Implications.

Due to the constant growth of the human population and anthropological activity, it has become necessary to use sustainable and affordable technologies that satisfy the current and future demand for agricultural products. Since the nutrients available to plants in the soil are limited and the need to increase the yields of the crops is desirable, the use of chemical (inorganic or NPK) fertilizers has been widespread over the last decades, causing a nutrient shortage due to their misuse and exploitation, and because of the uncontrolled use of these products, there has been a latent environmental and health problem globally. For this reason, green biotechnology based on the use of microalgae biomass is proposed as a sustainable alternative for development and use as soil improvers for crop cultivation and phytoremediation. This review explores the long-term risks of using chemical fertilizers for both human health (cancer and hypoxia) and the environment (eutrophication and erosion), as well as the potential of microalgae biomass to substitute current fertilizer using different treatments on the biomass and their application methods for the implementation on the soil; additionally, the biomass can be a source of carbon mitigation and wastewater treatment in agro-industrial processes.

Perspectives on the Use of Biopolymeric Matrices as Carriers for Plant-Growth Promoting Bacteria in Agricultural Systems.

The subject of this review is to discuss some aspects related to the use of biopolymeric matrices as carriers for plant-growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in agricultural systems as a possible technological solution for the establishment of agricultural production practices that result in fewer adverse impacts on the environment, reporting some promising and interesting results on the topic. Results from the encapsulation of different PGPB on alginate, starch, chitosan, and gelatin matrices are discussed, systematizing some advances made in this area of knowledge in recent years. Encapsulation of these bacteria has been shown to be an effective method for protecting them from unsuitable environments, and these new products that can act as biofertilizers and biopesticides play an important role in the establishment of a sustainable and modern agriculture. These new products are technological solutions for replacing deleterious chemical fertilizers and pesticides, maintaining soil fertility and stability, and improving crop productivity and food security. Finally, in the near future, scale-up studies will have to provide new information about the large-scale production of these materials as well as their application in the field under different biotic and abiotic stress conditions.

Combined Effect of the Potassium Dose and Plant Biofertilization by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus on the Growth, Mineral Content, Nutritional Quality, Antioxidant Activity, and Metabolomic Features of Tomatillo Fruits (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.).

An Acinetobacter calcoaceticus UTMR2 strain was evaluated in tomatillo plants (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) using a factorial design with different potassium doses (100, 75, 50 and 0% of the recommended dose). In addition to the agronomic parameters, an analysis of the physicochemical, antioxidant, and metabolomic properties of the fruit was performed. The application of the inoculant affected several parameters of the plant (chlorophyll, weight, and contents of several mineral elements) as well as of the fruit (yield, maturity index, FRAP antioxidant capacity, and contents of protein, fiber, and fat). A multivariate analysis was performed by means of a PCA and a heatmap, indicating that the inoculant induced a strong modulating activity in tomatillo plants for the evaluated parameters, with a remarkable effect at low K doses (0 and 50%). The inoculated treatment at 75% of the K dose resulted in similar plant and fruit characteristics to the fully fertilized control. On the other hand, the biofertilized treatment with no K addition resulted in the highest values in the plant and fruit parameters. In addition, from the metabolomics analysis of the fruits at 75% of the K dose, the up-regulation of 4,4″-bis(N-feruloyl)serotonin, salvianolic acid K, and chlorogenic acid was observed, which may have a role in anti-senescence and resistance mechanisms. In conclusion, the rhizobacterial strain had a positive effect on plant growth, nutritional quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of tomatillo fruits at reduced doses of K fertilizer, which gives support for its consideration as an effective biofertilizer strain.

Physiological Responses of Agave maximiliana to Inoculation with Autochthonous and Allochthonous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.

The benefits of mycorrhizal interactions are only known in 8 of 210 recognized Agave taxa. We evaluated the effects of autochthonous and allochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth and nutrient assimilation in Agave maximiliana. The autochthonous consortium (Cn) of eight species was propagated from the rhizospheric soil of A. maximiliana, while Claroideoglomus claroideum (Cc) and Claroideoglomus etunicatum (Ce) were employed as allochthonous AMF. Six treatments were included in the study: Cn, Ce, Cc, Ce + Cc, Tf (fertilized control), and Tn (non-fertilized control, not inoculated). Mycorrhizal colonization increased over time, and the colonization percentages produced by Cn and the allochthonous AMF, both alone and mixed together, were equal at 6, 12, and 18 months. Height increased steadily and was higher in AMF-treated plants from seven months onward. Growth indicators of AMF-treated and AMF-free plants were equal at 6 months, but the beneficial effects of allochthonous and autochthonous AMF were evident in all growth indicators at 18 months and in sugar and mineral (P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe) content. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly improved all growth parameters of A. maximiliana regardless of the origin of the inoculums. This is the first study to report the positive effects of AMF colonization in A. maximiliana.

Toxicological and behavioral analyses indicates the safety of a biofertilizer in the non-target D. melanogaster.

The demand for food to feed the growing world population has been promoting the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, which can be detrimental to the environment. In order to maintain high crop productivity without damaging the ecosystem, biofertilizers have emerged as alternative to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. So, environmentally safer biofertilizer can replace the exploitation of more toxic chemical fertilizer. Here, the fly Drosophila melanogaster was used to study the potential toxicity of the biofertilizer Beifort®. Flies were exposed to high concentrations of Beifort® in the diet (1.8 mL/L, 9.0 mL/L and 18 mL/L), and morphological and behavioral endpoints of toxicity were analyzed (development from egg to adult age, flies longevity, climbing performance, memory and learning of an associative learning, larvae digestive tract damage and plasmid DNA break). Beifort® did not modify flies development, survival, digestive track cell damage, locomotor activity or memory. Beifort® did not induce DNA breakage in vitro and had no toxicity to the non-target D. melanogaster after in vivo exposure. Thus, in addition of promoting the sustainable use of agricultural wastes, the exploitation of Beifort® can contribute to decrease the use of chemical fertilizers.

Preparation and evaluation of a liquid fertilizer from lactic fermentation of weeds / Preparo e avaliação de um fertilizante líquido a partir da fermentaçãolática de plantas daninhas

A total of twentymixtures of weed, B-Lac and molasses were prepared in orderto evaluate an accelerated liquid fertilizer (ALF) based on these plants. A mixture of 85% weed: water (1:1), 10% molasses and 5% B-Lac showed the best characteristics and was reproduced at a pilot scale. ALF was applied to lettuce using the following treatments: one foliar application per week of 10 mL L-1 (FA1), two foliar applications per week of 10 mL L-1 (FA2), one drench application of 50 mL L-1 every week (DA1), a drench application of 50 mL L-1 every two weeks (DA2) and a control without application (CWA). The variables evaluated were total yield, commercial yield, fresh weight, height, head diameter, percentage of dry matter and the concentration of foliar nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.The mixtures in the laboratoryand pilot phase were evaluated in a completely randomized design. The field phase was assessed in a completely randomized block design with five treatments and four replications. No significant differences were found between the treatments, except in the percentage of dry matter and potassium content, where FA2 showed the best results (2.35% and 541 mg plant-1, respectively). The highest total yield (26.4 t ha-1) and commercial (24.11 t ha-1) were achieved with DA2; however, the nutritional content was lower than that in the other treatments. Using homolactic fermentation it was possible to recycle weeds and produce ALF, which has potential as a biofertilizer according to its chemical characterization and effects shown on lettuce cultivation.(AU)

Foram preparadas vinte misturas de ervas daninhas, B-Lac e melaço para avaliar um fertilizante líquido acelerado (ALF) baseado nessas plantas. Uma misturade 85% erva:água (1:1), 10% melaço e 5% B-Lac apresentou as melhores características e foi reproduzida em escala piloto. A ALF foi aplicada à alface utilizando os seguintes tratamentos: uma aplicação foliar por semana de 10 mL L-1(AF1), duas aplicações foliares por semana de 10 mL L-1(AF2), uma aplicação via drench de 50 mL L-1a cada semana (AD1), uma aplicação via drench de 50 mL L-1a cada duas semanas (AD2) e um controle sem aplicação (CSA). As variáveis avaliadas foram produtividade total, produtividade comercial, massa fresca, altura, diâmetro da cabeça, porcentagem de matéria seca e concentração foliar de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio. As misturas na fase de laboratório e piloto foram avaliadas em delineamentos inteiramente casualizados. A fase decampo foi avaliada em blocos casualizados com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos, exceto no percentual de matéria seca e no teor de potássio, onde o AF2 apresentou os melhores resultados (2,35% e 541 mg planta-1, respectivamente). As maiores produtividades total (26,4 t ha-1) e comercial (24,11 t ha-1) foram obtidas com AD2; no entanto, o teor nutricional foi inferior aos demais tratamentos. Utilizando a fermentação homolática foi possível reciclar as ervas daninhas e produzir FLA, que tem potencial como biofertilizante de acordo com sua caracterização química e efeitos demonstrados no cultivo de alface.(AU)