Parameter evaluation for developing phosphate-solubilizing Bacillus inoculants.

Bacterial inoculants have been used in agriculture to improve plant performance. However, laboratory and field requirements must be completed before a candidate can be employed as an inoculant. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the parameters for inoculant formulation and the potential of Bacillus subtilis (B70) and B. pumilus (B32) to improve phosphorus availability in maize (Zea mays L.) crops. In vitro experiments assessed the bacterial ability to solubilize and mineralize phosphate, their adherence to roots, and shelf life in cassava starch (CS), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), peat, and activated charcoal (AC) stored at 4 °C and room temperature for 6 months. A field experiment evaluated the effectiveness of strains to increase the P availability to plants growing with rock phosphate (RP) and a mixture of RP and triple superphosphate (TS) and their contribution to improving maize yield and P accumulation in grains. The B70 was outstanding in solubilizing RP and phytate mineralization and more stable in carriers and storage conditions than B32. However, root adherence was more noticeable in B32. Among carriers, AC was the most effective for preserving viable cell counts, closely similar to those of the initial inoculum of both strains. Maize productivity using the mixture RPTS was similar for B70 and B32. The best combination was B70 with RP, which improved the maize yield (6532 kg ha-1) and P accumulation in grains (15.95 kg ha-1). Our results indicated that the inoculant formulation with AC carrier and B70 is a feasible strategy for improving phosphorus mobilization in the soil and maize productivity.

Co-inoculation with tropical strains of Azospirillum and Bacillus is more efficient than single inoculation for improving plant growth and nutrient uptake in maize.

Usage of Bacillus and Azospirillum as new eco-friendly microbial consortium inoculants is a promising strategy to increase plant growth and crop yield by improving nutrient availability in agricultural sustainable systems. In this study, we designed a multispecies inoculum containing B. thuringiensis (strain B116), B. subtillis (strain B2084) and Azospirillum sp. (strains A1626 and A2142) to investigate their individual or co-inoculated ability to solubilize and mineralize phosphate, produce indole acetic acid (IAA) and their effect on maize growth promotion in hydroponics and in a non-sterile soil. All strains showed significant IAA production, P mineralization (sodium phytate) and Ca-P, Fe-P (tricalcium phosphate and iron phosphate, respectively) solubilization. In hydroponics, co-inoculation with A1626 x A2142, B2084 x A2142, B2084 x A1626 resulted in higher root total length, total surface area, and surface area of roots with diameter between 0 and 1 mm than other treatments with single inoculant, except B2084. In a greenhouse experiment, maize inoculated with the two Azospirillum strains exhibited enhanced shoot dry weight, shoot P and K content, root dry weight, root N and K content and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities than the other treatments. There was a significant correlation between soil P and P shoot, alkaline phosphatase and P shoot and between acid phosphatase and root dry weight. It may be concluded that co-inoculations are most effective than single inoculants strains, mainly between two selected Azospirillum strains. Thus, they could have synergistic interactions during maize growth, and be useful in the formulation of new inoculants to improve the tropical cropping systems sustainability.

Antifungal activity of bacterial strains from maize silks against Fusarium verticillioides.

Fusarium verticillioides is pathogenic to maize and mycotoxin-producer, causing yield losses, feed and food contamination, and risks to human and animal health. Endophytic (ISD04 and IPR45) and epiphytic (CT02 and IM14) bacteria from maize silks were tested in vitro and greenhouse against F. verticillioides and for hydrolytic enzyme production (cellulase, pectinase, protease, lipase, and chitinase). The strains preliminarily identified as Achromobacter xylosoxidans (ISD04), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IPR45), and Bacillus velezensis (CT02 and IM14) by 16S gene sequencing. All strains showed antifungal activity in vitro with inhibition values from 58.5 to 100%; they changed hyphae morphology and inhibited the conidial germination by up to 100% (IPR45). The four strains produced at least one enzyme with antifungal activity. The microbiolized seeds reduced the fungal development in stored grains and stalk rot severity in the greenhouse by 72.6% (ISD04). These results highlight the potential of these strains as biocontrol agents against F. verticillioides.

Gas Exchange, Root Morphology and Nutrients in Maize Plants Inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense Cultivated Under Two Water Conditions

HIGHLIGHTS Azospirillum brasilense stimulates root growth in maize under water deficit. Maize inoculated with A. brasilense shows greater photosynthesis under drought conditions. Under water deficit, maize plants inoculated with A. brasilense showed greater water use efficiency (WUE).

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the gas exchange, root morphology and nutrient concentration in maize plants inoculated with A. brasilense under two water conditions. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, one under irrigation and the other under water deficit. The treatments consisted of four A. brasilense inoculants (control (without inoculation), Az1 (CMS 7 + 26), Az2 (CMS 11 + 26) and Az3 (CMS 26 +42). At the V6 plant stage, water stress was imposed on maize plants for 15 days. The phytotechnical characteristics, gas exchange, root morphology, root dry matter and macronutrient analysis were evaluated after 15 days of water deficit imposition. The water deficit caused a reduction in the development of maize plants. The presence of A. brasilense Az1 under the same condition yielded higher photosynthesis, carboxylation efficiency, water use efficiency, and greater soil exploration with increased length, surface area and root volume of plants. Inoculation by A. brasilense increased root system volume by an average of 40 and 47% under irrigation and water deficit, respectively, when compared to non-inoculated plants. The inoculant Az1 attenuated the deleterious effects caused by drought and yielded the best growth of the root system, resulting in the tolerance of maize plants to water deficit.

Effect of soil tillage and N fertilization on N2O mitigation in maize in the Brazilian Cerrado.

The management system of soils and nitrogen application can cause impacts on the N2O emissions produced by the agricultural sector. In the establishment of practices of greenhouse gas mitigation for this sector, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil tillage, with and without N fertilization, on N2O emissions from Oxisols under rainfed maize in the Brazilian Cerrado region. The managements were of monoculture maize under conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT), with (1) and without (0) application of N fertilizer (0 and 257 kg N ha-1). From November 2014 to October 2015, gas emissions were measured. The soil and climate variables were measured and related to the N2O fluxes. In the N-fertilized treatments, N2O fluxes were higher (P < 0.01), ranging from -21 µg m-2 h-1 to 548 µg m-2 h-1 N2O under conventional tillage and from -21 µg m-2 h-1 to 380 µg m-2 h-1 N2O under no-tillage, compared with -6 to 93 µg m-2 h-1 N2O from systems without N application. There was a combined effect of mineral N and water-filled pore space for most N2O fluxes. The emission factors of N2O during maize cultivation were lower than the standard factor (1%) established by the International Panel of Climate Change. During the plant crop cycle, 30% less N2O was emitted from the N-fertilized no-tillage than from the conventional tillage. For the total cumulative N2O (crop cycle + fallow), the N2O emissions from NT1 and CT1 were not different, but 10× higher than those from the respective crops without N fertilization. To the emissions per unit of grain yield, CT1 and NT1 emitted 769 and 391 mg N2O kg-1 grain produced, respectively, and NT1 was most efficient in fertilizer-into-product conversion. Under maize cultivation, the soil acted as N2O source, regardless of the management.

Endophytic Bacillus strains enhance pearl millet growth and nutrient uptake under low-P.

Bacterial endophytes are considered to have a beneficial effect on host plants, improving their growth by different mechanisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the capacity of four endophytic Bacillus strains to solubilize iron phosphate (Fe-P), produce siderophores and indole-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro, and to evaluate their plant growth promotion ability in greenhouse conditions by inoculation into pearl millet cultivated in a P-deficient soils without P fertilization, with Araxá rock phosphate or soluble triple superphosphate. All strains solubilized Fe-P and three of them produced carboxylate-type siderophores and high levels of IAA in the presence of tryptophan. Positive effect of inoculation of some of these strains on shoot and root dry weight and the N P K content of plants cultivated in soil with no P fertilization might result from the synergistic combination of multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) traits. Specifically, while B1923 enhanced shoot and root dry weight and root N P content of plants cultivated with no P added, B2084 and B2088 strains showed positive performance on biomass production and accumulation of N P K in the shoot, indicating that they have higher potential to be microbial biofertilizer candidates for commercial applications in the absence of fertilization.

Endophytic Bacillus strains enhance pearl millet growth and nutrient uptake under low-P

Abstract Bacterial endophytes are considered to have a beneficial effect on host plants, improving their growth by different mechanisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the capacity of four endophytic Bacillus strains to solubilize iron phosphate (Fe-P), produce siderophores and indole-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro, and to evaluate their plant growth promotion ability in greenhouse conditions by inoculation into pearl millet cultivated in a P-deficient soils without P fertilization, with Araxá rock phosphate or soluble triple superphosphate. All strains solubilized Fe-P and three of them produced carboxylate-type siderophores and high levels of IAA in the presence of tryptophan. Positive effect of inoculation of some of these strains on shoot and root dry weight and the N P K content of plants cultivated in soil with no P fertilization might result from the synergistic combination of multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) traits. Specifically, while B1923 enhanced shoot and root dry weight and root N P content of plants cultivated with no P added, B2084 and B2088 strains showed positive performance on biomass production and accumulation of N P K in the shoot, indicating that they have higher potential to be microbial biofertilizer candidates for commercial applications in the absence of fertilization.

Endophytic Bacillus strains enhance pearl millet growth and nutrient uptake under low-P

Abstract Bacterial endophytes are considered to have a beneficial effect on host plants, improving their growth by different mechanisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the capacity of four endophytic Bacillus strains to solubilize iron phosphate (Fe-P), produce siderophores and indole-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro, and to evaluate their plant growth promotion ability in greenhouse conditions by inoculation into pearl millet cultivated in a P-deficient soils without P fertilization, with Araxá rock phosphate or soluble triple superphosphate. All strains solubilized Fe-P and three of them produced carboxylate-type siderophores and high levels of IAA in the presence of tryptophan. Positive effect of inoculation of some of these strains on shoot and root dry weight and the N P K content of plants cultivated in soil with no P fertilization might result from the synergistic combination of multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) traits. Specifically, while B1923 enhanced shoot and root dry weight and root N P content of plants cultivated with no P added, B2084 and B2088 strains showed positive performance on biomass production and accumulation of N P K in the shoot, indicating that they have higher potential to be microbial biofertilizer candidates for commercial applications in the absence of fertilization.

Selection of efficient rhizobial symbionts for Cratylia argentea in the cerrado biome / Seleção de rizóbios eficientes na simbiose com Cratylia argentea no bioma cerrado

ABSTRACT: Cratylia argentea is a leguminous shrub native to the cerrado, which has great potential for forage production and recovery of degraded areas. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and select efficient rhizobial strains in symbiosis with Cratylia argentea . Rhizobacteria were isolated from the nodules of 12-month-old plants and cultivated in pots containing cerrado soil. Twenty-five bacterial strains were obtained, which displayed extensive variability with respect to morphological and symbiotic characteristics. Cratylia argentea seeds were planted in pots containing 5kg of cerrado soil and maintained in the greenhouse. The treatments consisted of 25 rhizobial isolates, two controls (without nitrogen and without inoculation), with or without nitrogen fertilization (5mgN·plant-1·week-1), and four replications. Plants were cultivated for 150 days after planting seeds to evaluate nodule number, nodule dry weight, shoot and root dry weight, shoot and root N content, and relative and symbiotic efficiency. Thirteen isolates improved shoot dry weight (up to 65.8%) and shoot nitrogen concentration (up to 76%) compared with those of control treatments. Two isolates, 4 (CR42) and 22 (CR52), conferred higher symbiotic efficiency values of approximately 20%. Therefore, these two rhizobial isolates displayed the highest potential as beneficial inoculants to optimize the symbiotic efficiency for Cratylia and to increase the incorporation of nutrients and biomass into the productive system in the cerrado.

RESUMO: Cratylia argentea é uma leguminosa arbustiva nativa do cerrado, com alto potencial para produção de forragem e recuperação de áreas degradadas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo isolar, caracterizar e selecionar estirpes de rizóbios eficientes na simbiose com C. argentea . As bactérias foram isoladas de nódulos de plantas com 12 meses de idade, cultivadas em solo de cerrado, em vasos. Foram obtidas 25 estirpes, que apresentaram alta variabilidade em relação às características morfológicas e simbióticas. Sementes de C. argentea foram plantadas em potes contendo 5kg de solo de cerrado, e mantidos em casa de vegetação. Os tratamentos consistiram em 25 isolados, controle (sem N e sem inoculação) e adubação nitrogenada (5mgN·planta-1·semana-1), em quatro repetições. As plantas foram colhidas 150 dias após o plantio para avaliar o número e a massa seca de nódulos, a massa seca e concentração de nitrogênio da parte área e das raízes. Foram calculadas as eficiências relativas e simbióticas. Treze estirpes se destacaram quanto ao acúmulo de massa seca (até 65,8%) e acúmulo de nitrogênio (até 76%), da parte aérea, em relação ao tratamento controle. Dentre estas, as estirpes 4 e 22 apresentaram maiores eficiências simbióticas (em torno de 20%). Portanto, estas estirpes apresentaram potencial para formulação de inoculantes, visando otimizar o processo simbiótico rizóbio- Cratylia e a incorporação de biomassa e nutrientes em sistema produtivos no cerrado.

Endophytic microbial community in two transgenic maize genotypes and in their near-isogenic non-transgenic maize genotype.

BACKGROUND: Despite all the benefits assigned to the genetically modified plants, there are still no sufficient data available in literature concerning the possible effects on the microbial communities associated with these plants. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining the effects of the genetic modifications of two transgenic maize genotypes (MON810--expressing the insecticidal Bt-toxin and TC1507--expressing the insecticidal Bt-toxin and the herbicide resistance PAT [phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase]) on their endophytic microbial communities, in comparison to the microbial community found in the near-isogenic non-transgenic maize (control). RESULTS: The structure of the endophytic communities (Bacteria, Archaea and fungi) and their composition (Bacteria) were evaluated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and the construction of clone libraries, respectively. DGGE analysis and the clone libraries of the bacterial community showed that genotype TC1507 slightly differed from the other two genotypes. Genotype TC1507 showed a higher diversity within its endophytic bacterial community when compared to the other genotypes. Although some bacterial genera were found in all genotypes, such as the genera Burkholderia, Achromobacer and Stenotrophomonas, some were unique to genotype TC1507. Moreover, OTUs associated with Enterobacter predominated only in TC1507 clone libraries. CONCLUSION: The endophytic bacterial community of the maize genotype TC1507 differed from the communities of the maize genotype MON810 and of their near-isogenic parental genotypes (non-Bt or control). The differences observed among the maize genotypes studied may be associated with insertion of the gene coding for the protein PAT present only in the transgenic genotype TC1507.

Different effects of transgenic maize and nontransgenic maize on nitrogen-transforming archaea and bacteria in tropical soils.

The composition of the rhizosphere microbiome is a result of interactions between plant roots, soil, and environmental conditions. The impact of genetic variation in plant species on the composition of the root-associated microbiota remains poorly understood. This study assessed the abundances and structures of nitrogen-transforming (ammonia-oxidizing) archaea and bacteria as well as nitrogen-fixing bacteria driven by genetic modification of their maize host plants. The data show that significant changes in the abundances (revealed by quantitative PCR) of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial and archaeal communities occurred as a result of the maize host being genetically modified. In contrast, the structures of the total communities (determined by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) were mainly driven by factors such as soil type and season and not by plant genotype. Thus, the abundances of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial and archaeal communities but not structures of those communities were revealed to be responsive to changes in maize genotype, allowing the suggestion that community abundances should be explored as candidate bioindicators for monitoring the possible impacts of cultivation of genetically modified plants.

Temporal dynamics of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of two genetically modified (GM) maize hybrids in tropical agrosystems.

The use of genetically modified (GM) plants still raises concerns about their environmental impact. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of GM maize, in comparison to the parental line, on the structure and abundance of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. Moreover, the effect of soil type was addressed. For this purpose, the bacterial and fungal communities associated with the rhizosphere of GM plants were compared by culture-independent methodologies to the near-isogenic parental line. Two different soils and three stages of plant development in two different periods of the year were included. As evidenced by principal components analysis (PCA) of the PCR-DGGE profiles of evaluated community, clear differences occurred in these rhizosphere communities between soils and the periods of the year that maize was cultivated. However, there were no discernible effects of the GM lines as compared to the parental line. For all microbial communities evaluated, soil type and the period of the year that the maize was cultivated were the main factors that influenced their structures. No differences were observed in the abundances of total bacteria between the rhizospheres of GM and parental plant lines.

Bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil and rhizospheres of aluminum-tolerant and aluminum-sensitive maize (Zea mays L.) lines cultivated in unlimed and limed Cerrado soil.

Liming of acidic soils can prevent aluminum toxicity and improve crop production. Some maize lines show aluminum (Al) tolerance, and exudation of organic acids by roots has been considered to represent an important mechanism involved in the tolerance. However, there is no information about the impact of liming on the structures of bacterial and fungal communities in Cerrado soil, nor if there are differences between the microbial communities from the rhizospheres of Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive maize lines. This study evaluated the effects of liming on the structure of bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil and rhizospheres of Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) lines cultivated in Cerrado soil by PCR-DGGE, 30 and 90 days after sowing. Bacterial fingerprints revealed that the bacterial communities from rhizospheres were more affected by aluminum stress in soil than by the maize line (Al-sensitive or Al-tolerant). Differences in bacterial communities were also observed over time (30 and 90 days after sowing), and these occurred mainly in the Actinobacteria. Conversely, fungal communities from the rhizosphere were weakly affected either by liming or by the rhizosphere, as observed from the DGGE profiles. Furthermore, only a few differences were observed in the DGGE profiles of the fungal populations during plant development when compared with bacterial communities. Cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments obtained from dominant DGGE bands detected in the bacterial profiles of the Cerrado bulk soil revealed that Actinomycetales and Rhizobiales were among the dominant ribotypes.

Diversity of nifH gene pools in the rhizosphere of two cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) treated with contrasting levels of nitrogen fertilizer.

The diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria was assessed in the rhizospheres of two cultivars of sorghum (IS 5322-C and IPA 1011) sown in Cerrado soil amended with two levels of nitrogen fertilizer (12 and 120 kg ha(-1)). The nifH gene was amplified directly from DNA extracted from the rhizospheres, and the PCR products cloned and sequenced. Four clone libraries were generated from the nifH fragments and 245 sequences were obtained. Most of the clones (57%) were closely related to nifH genes of uncultured bacteria. NifH clones affiliated with Azohydromonas spp., Ideonella sp., Rhizobium etli and Bradyrhizobium sp. were found in all libraries. Sequences affiliated with Delftia tsuruhatensis were found in the rhizosphere of both cultivars sown with high levels of nitrogen, while clones affiliated with Methylocystis sp. were detected only in plants sown under low levels of nitrogen. Moreover, clones affiliated with Paenibacillus durus could be found in libraries from the cultivar IS 5322-C sown either in high or low amounts of fertilizer. This study showed that the amount of nitrogen used for fertilization is the overriding determinative factor that influenced the nitrogen-fixing community structures in sorghum rhizospheres cultivated in Cerrado soil.

Diversity of Paenibacillus spp. in the rhizosphere of four sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars sown with two contrasting levels of nitrogen fertilizer assessed by rpoB-based PCR-DGGE and sequencing analysis.

The diversity of Paenibacillus species was assessed in the rhizospheres of four cultivars of sorghum sown in Cerrado soil amended with two levels of nitrogen fertilizer (12 and 120 kg/ha). Two cultivars (IS 5322-C and IS 6320) demanded the higher amount of nitrogen to grow, whereas the other two (FBS 8701-9 and IPA 1011) did not. Using the DNA extracted from the rhizospheres, a Paenibacillus-specific PCR system based on the RNA polymerase gene (rpoB) was chosen for the molecular analyses. The resulting PCR products were separated into community fingerprints by DGGE and the results showed a clear distinction between cultivars. In addition, clone libraries were generated from the rpoB fragments of two cultivars (IPA 1011 and IS 5322-C) using both fertilization conditions, and 318 selected clones were sequenced. Analyzed sequences were grouped into 14 Paenibacillus species. A greater diversity of Paenibacillus species was observed in cultivar IPA 1011 compared with cultivar IS 5322-C. Moreover, statistical analyses of the sequences showed that the bacterial diversity was more influenced by cultivar type than nitrogen fertilization, corroborating the DGGE results. Thus, the sorghum cultivar type was the overriding determinative factor that influenced the community structures of the Paenibacillus communities in the habitats investigated.

Matéria seca e acúmulo de nutrientes em genótipos de milho contrastantes quanto a aquisição de fósforo / Dry matter and mineral nutrition in efficient corn genotypes in relation to phosphurus acquisition

Com o intuito de avaliar o efeito do estresse de P sobre atributos morfológicos do sistema radicular de genótipos de milho contrastantes quanto a eficiência na aquisição de fósforo, conduziu-se um experimento em casa-de-vegetação da Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, MG, onde foram testados oito genótipos de milho, provenientes do programa de melhoramento da Empresa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 8 x 2, com três repetições, correspondendo a oito genótipos (três linhagens: L1 = ineficiente, L2 e L3 = eficientes; e cinco híbridos: H1, H2 e H3 = eficientes, H4 e H5 = ineficientes) e dois níveis de P (baixo e alto). As plantas foram crescidas em solução nutritiva com duas concentrações de P equivalentes a 2,3 µM e 129 µM. A composição da solução nutritiva foi a seguinte, em mg L-1: N-NO3 152; N-NH4 18,2; Ca 141,1; K 90,1; Mg 20,8; S 18,8; Fe 4,3; Mn 0,5; B 0,27; Cu 0,04; Zn 0,15; Mo 0,08; Na 0,04 e HEDTA 20,06. Aos 18 dias do transplantio, verificou-se que, sob condições de estresse de P em solução nutritiva, os híbridos H5, H1 e H2 apresentaram os maiores valores de massa seca total e da parte aérea, em relação aos demais. De modo geral, tanto os híbridos como as linhagens, quando foram crescidos em solução com baixo nível de P, apresentaram maior relação raiz/parte aérea, do que os materiais que cresceram em solução com alto nível do nutriente. A concentração de N na parte aérea das plantas foi significativamente superior no tratamento com baixo nível de P na solução nutritiva. Os híbridos H1 e H2 e a linhagens L3 acumularam as maiores quantidades de P na parte aérea, independentemente do nível de P na solução. Esses resultados foram influenciados pelas maiores produções de produção de matéria seca apresentadas pelos referidos materiais. Independente do nível de P houve variação no conteúdo do nutriente na parte aérea dos híbridos, não sendo observado o mesmo comportamento para as linhagens.

With the objective of evaluating the effect of phosphorus stress on morphological attributes of the root system of corn genotypes contrasting in relation to phosphorus efficiency, an experiment was carried out in nutrient solution in greenhouse at Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Sete Lagoas, MG, in the months of november and december of 2001. The experiment design was totally at random, in an 8 x 2 factorial scheme with three repetitions, corresponding to eight genotypes (three lineages: L1 = inefficient, L2 and L3 = efficient, and five hybrids: H1,H2 and H3 = efficient, H4 and H5 = inefficient) and two phosphorus levels (low = 2.3 mM and high = 129 mM). The seedlings were grown in nutrient solution with a following composition: in mg L-1: N-NO3 152; N-NH4 18,2; Ca 141,1; K 90,1; Mg 20,8; S 18,8; Fe 4,3; Mn 0,5; B 0,27; Cu 0,04; Zn 0,15; Mo 0,08; Na 0,04 e HEDTA 20,06. At 18 days after transplanting, the results showed that, under conditions of P stress in nutritive solution, the hybrids H5, H1 and H2 presented the largest values of total and shoot dry matter, in relation to the others. In general, the hybrids and inbred lines when were grown in solution with low level of P, they presented larger root-shoot relationship, than the materials grew in solution with high level of the nutrient. The concentration of N in the shoot of the plants was superior in the treatment with low level of P. The hybrids H1 and H2 and the inbred line L3 accumulated the largest amounts of P in the shoot, independently of the level of P in the solution. Independent of P level, there was variation in the nutrient content in the shoot of the hybrid, while in inbred lines were not observed the same behavior.