Acyl-Homoserine Lactone from Plant-Associated Pseudomonas sp. Influences Solanum lycopersicum Germination and Root Growth.

It is known that plant and associated bacteria coevolved, but just now the roles of chemical signaling compounds in these intricate relationships have been systematically studied. Many Gram-negative bacteria produce N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHL), chemical signals used in quorum-sensing bacterial communications mechanisms. In recent years, it has been shown that these compounds may also influence the development of plants, acting as allelochemicals, in still not well understood eukaryot-prokaryot interactions. In the present work, a quorum-sensing molecule produced by the tomato associated bacterium Pseudomonas sp. was characterized and its effects on germination and growth of tomato seedlings were accessed. The chemical study of the bacterium extract led to the identification of N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (1), using gas chromatography coupled to electron impact mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and ultra-high resolution Qq-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHR-QqTOF-MS) equipped with an electrospray ionization source (ESI). The synthetic compound was tested at different concentrations in tomato to evaluate its effects on seed germination and seedlings root growth. Inhibition of tomato seed germination and root growth were observed in the presence of micromolar concentrations of the compound 1. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced morphological alterations on roots in the presence of the compound, with reduction of growth, impaired root hairs development and cracks in the rhizodermis.

Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium in soybean crop: a meta-analysis of studies from 1987 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: The co-inoculation of soybean with Bradyrhizobium and other plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is considered a promising technology. However, there has been little quantitative analysis of the effects of this technique on yield variables. In this context, the present study aiming to provide a quantification of the effects of the co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and PGPR on the soybean crop using a meta-analysis approach. METHODS: A total of 42 published articles were examined, all of which considered the effects of co-inoculation of PGPR and Bradyrhizobium on the number of nodules, nodule biomass, root biomass, shoot biomass, shoot nitrogen content, and grain yield of soybean. We also determined whether the genus of the PGPR used as co-inoculant, as well as the experimental conditions, altered the effect size of the PGPR. RESULTS: The co-inoculation technology resulted in a significant increase in nodule number (11.40%), nodule biomass (6.47%), root biomass (12.84%), and shoot biomass (6.53%). Despite these positive results, no significant increase was observed in shoot nitrogen content and grain yield. The response of the co-inoculation varied according to the PGPR genus used as co-inoculant, as well as with the experimental conditions. In general, the genera Azospirillum, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas were more effective than Serratia. Overall, the observed increments were more pronounced under pot than that of field conditions. Collectively, this study summarize that co-inoculation improves plant development and increases nodulation, which may be important in overcoming nutritional limitations and potential stresses during the plant growth cycle, even though significant increases in grain yield have not been evidenced by this data meta-analysis.

Development of biodegradable coatings for maize seeds and their application for Azospirillum brasilense immobilization.

The objective of this study was to develop biodegradable coatings for agriculture crop seeds based on starch, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Developed materials were characterized according to their microstructures, barrier properties, influence on germination of maize seeds, and ability to sustain Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 viability in coated maize seeds. The coatings were obtained employing different proportions of starch, gelatin, and PVA, ranging from 0 to 3.0 g/100 g of each material, respectively. Samples formulated with the pure polymers showed the highest values of water absorption capacity, solubility, and water vapor permeability, and the ternary mixtures showed the lowest values. Single polymer formulations and the binary starch-gelatin mixture (CS50GL50) favored maize seeds germination compared to the uncoated maize seeds. In addition, seed coating obtained from CS50GL50 formulation resulted in A. brasilense Ab-V5 viability in coated seeds up to 15 days after bacterial immobilization, being considered a promising low-cost, biodegradable, and renewable source material to be used in agriculture.

Proteolytic and lipolytic potential of Pseudomonas spp. from goat and bovine raw milk / Potencial proteolítico e lipolítico de espécies de Pseudomonas do leite cru caprino e bovino

Pseudomonas, the main genus of gram-negative microorganisms isolated from milk, is psychrotrophic, biofilm-forming, and thermo-resistant deteriorating enzyme producers. The aim of this study was to quantify Pseudomonas spp. in goat's and cow's milk produced in the Paraná state, Brazil, to evaluate the deteriorating activity of the isolates at mesophilic and psychrotrophic conditions and to identify, at the species level, the isolates with alkaline metalloprotease (aprX gene) production potential. Microbiological, biochemical and molecular methods were used for isolating, confirming and identifying of isolates. The mean counts were 1.6 (±6.3)x104 and 0.89(±3)x102 CFU/mL for goat and bovine milk samples, respectively, immediately after milking. Of the Pseudomonas colonies isolated from goat milk (n=60), 91.7% showed proteolytic potential when incubated at 35°C/48 h and 80% at 7°C/10 days, and lipolytic potential was observed in 95% of the isolates incubated in mesophilic and 78.3% at refrigeration conditions. From the isolates of bovine milk (n=20), 35% showed proteolytic activity only when incubated at 35°C/48 h, and lipolytic potential was observed in 25% of the isolates incubated at 7°C/10d and 35°C/48h. It was observed that 83.3% and 25% of the isolates genetically confirmed as Pseudomonas spp. of goat and bovine milk showed the potential for alkaline metalloprotease production, with the species P. azotoformans, P. koreensis, P. gessardii, P. monteilii and P. lurida being the most frequent in goat milk and P. aeruginosa the only species identified in cow milk.(AU)

Pseudomonas é o principal gênero de micro-organismos Gram negativos isolados do leite, são psicrotróficos, formadores de biofilmes e produtores de enzimas deteriorantes termodúricas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi quantificar Pseudomonas spp. no leite de cabras e vacas produzido no estado do Paraná, Brasil, avaliar a atividade deteriorante em temperatura mesofílica e psicrotrófica e identificar, em nível de espécie, os isolados com potencial de produção de metaloprotease alcalina (geneaprX). Foram utilizados métodos microbiológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares para isolamento, confirmação e identificação dos isolados. As contagens médias foram de 1,6 (±6,3) x 104 e 0,9 (±3) x 102 UFC/mL para as amostras de leite caprino e bovino, respectivamente. Dos isolados de Pseudomonas do leite de cabra (n=60), 91,7% demonstraram potencial proteolítico quando incubadas a 35°C/48h e 80% a 7°C/10dias e lipolíticos em 95% dos isolados incubados em mesofilia e em 78,3% dos incubados em temperatura de refrigeração. Dos isolados do leite bovino (n=20), foi verificada atividade proteolítica de 35% apenas quando incubadas a 35°C/48h e lipolítica em 25% dos isolados incubados a 7°C/10d e 35°C/48h. Foi observado que 83,3% e 25% dos isolados confirmados geneticamente como Pseudomonas spp. do leite caprino e bovino, respectivamente, apresentaram o potencial de produção de metaloprotease alcalina, sendo as espécies P. azotoformans, P. koreensis, P. gessardii, P. monteilii e P. lurida as mais frequentes no leite de cabras e P. aeruginosa a única identificada do leite de vacas.(AU)

Proteolytic and lipolytic potential of Pseudomonas spp. from goat and bovine raw milk / Potencial proteolítico e lipolítico de espécies de Pseudomonas do leite cru caprino e bovino

Pseudomonas, the main genus of gram-negative microorganisms isolated from milk, is psychrotrophic, biofilm-forming, and thermo-resistant deteriorating enzyme producers. The aim of this study was to quantify Pseudomonas spp. in goat's and cow's milk produced in the Paraná state, Brazil, to evaluate the deteriorating activity of the isolates at mesophilic and psychrotrophic conditions and to identify, at the species level, the isolates with alkaline metalloprotease (aprX gene) production potential. Microbiological, biochemical and molecular methods were used for isolating, confirming and identifying of isolates. The mean counts were 1.6 (±6.3)x104 and 0.89(±3)x102 CFU/mL for goat and bovine milk samples, respectively, immediately after milking. Of the Pseudomonas colonies isolated from goat milk (n=60), 91.7% showed proteolytic potential when incubated at 35°C/48 h and 80% at 7°C/10 days, and lipolytic potential was observed in 95% of the isolates incubated in mesophilic and 78.3% at refrigeration conditions. From the isolates of bovine milk (n=20), 35% showed proteolytic activity only when incubated at 35°C/48 h, and lipolytic potential was observed in 25% of the isolates incubated at 7°C/10d and 35°C/48h. It was observed that 83.3% and 25% of the isolates genetically confirmed as Pseudomonas spp. of goat and bovine milk showed the potential for alkaline metalloprotease production, with the species P. azotoformans, P. koreensis, P. gessardii, P. monteilii and P. lurida being the most frequent in goat milk and P. aeruginosa the only species identified in cow milk.(AU)

Pseudomonas é o principal gênero de micro-organismos Gram negativos isolados do leite, são psicrotróficos, formadores de biofilmes e produtores de enzimas deteriorantes termodúricas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi quantificar Pseudomonas spp. no leite de cabras e vacas produzido no estado do Paraná, Brasil, avaliar a atividade deteriorante em temperatura mesofílica e psicrotrófica e identificar, em nível de espécie, os isolados com potencial de produção de metaloprotease alcalina (geneaprX). Foram utilizados métodos microbiológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares para isolamento, confirmação e identificação dos isolados. As contagens médias foram de 1,6 (±6,3) x 104 e 0,9 (±3) x 102 UFC/mL para as amostras de leite caprino e bovino, respectivamente. Dos isolados de Pseudomonas do leite de cabra (n=60), 91,7% demonstraram potencial proteolítico quando incubadas a 35°C/48h e 80% a 7°C/10dias e lipolíticos em 95% dos isolados incubados em mesofilia e em 78,3% dos incubados em temperatura de refrigeração. Dos isolados do leite bovino (n=20), foi verificada atividade proteolítica de 35% apenas quando incubadas a 35°C/48h e lipolítica em 25% dos isolados incubados a 7°C/10d e 35°C/48h. Foi observado que 83,3% e 25% dos isolados confirmados geneticamente como Pseudomonas spp. do leite caprino e bovino, respectivamente, apresentaram o potencial de produção de metaloprotease alcalina, sendo as espécies P. azotoformans, P. koreensis, P. gessardii, P. monteilii e P. lurida as mais frequentes no leite de cabras e P. aeruginosa a única identificada do leite de vacas.(AU)

Maize Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 Cells Enriched with Exopolysaccharides and Polyhydroxybutyrate Results in High Productivity under Low N Fertilizer Input.

Although Azospirillum strains used in commercial inoculant formulations presents diazotrophic activity, it has been reported that their ability to produce phytohormones plays a pivotal role in plant growth-promotion, leading to a general recommendation of its use in association with regular N-fertilizer doses. In addition, a high variability in the effectiveness of Azospirillum inoculants is still reported under field conditions, contributing to the adoption of the inoculation technology as an additional management practice rather than its use as an alternative practice to the use of chemical inputs in agriculture. To investigate whether the content of stress-resistance biopolymers would improve the viability and performance of Azospirillum inoculants when used as substitute of N-fertilizers, biomass of A. brasilense strain Ab-V5 enriched in exopolysaccharides (EPS) and polyhydroxybutirate (PHB) was produced using a new culture medium developed by factorial mixture design, and the effectiveness of resulting inoculants was evaluated under field conditions. The culture medium formulation extended the log phase of A. brasilense cultures, which presented higher cell counts and increased EPS and PHB contents than observed in the cultures grown in the OAB medium used as control. An inoculation trial with maize conducted under greenhouse conditions and using the biopolymers-enriched Ab-V5 cells demonstrated the importance of EPS and PHB to the long term bacterial viability in soil and to the effectiveness of inoculation. The effectiveness of liquid and peat inoculants prepared with Ab-V5 cells enriched with EPS and PHB was also evaluated under field conditions, using maize as target crop along different seasons, with the inoculants applied directly over seeds or at topdressing under limiting levels of N-fertilization. No additive effect on yield resulted from inoculation under high N fertilizer input, while inoculated plants grown under 80% reduction in N fertilizer showed yields at levels compared to fully fertilized plants, regardless the inoculation method. The presented data highlights the feasibility to partially substitute the N-fertilizer demand in non-legume crops using high-quality inoculant formulations, prepared with diazotrophic bacteria enriched with stress-resistance biopolymers that confer increased viability an effectiveness to the bacterial cells.

Identification of Genes Involved in Indole-3-Acetic Acid Biosynthesis by Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5 Strain Using Transposon Mutagenesis.

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus is a beneficial nitrogen-fixing endophyte found in association with sugarcane plants and other important crops. Beneficial effects of G. diazotrophicus on sugarcane growth and productivity have been attributed to biological nitrogen fixation process and production of phytohormones especially indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); however, information about the biosynthesis and function of IAA in G. diazotrophicus is still scarce. Therefore, the aim of this work was to identify genes and pathways involved in IAA biosynthesis in this bacterium. In our study, the screening of two independent Tn5 mutant libraries of PAL5T strain using the Salkowski colorimetric assay revealed two mutants (Gdiaa34 and Gdiaa01), which exhibited 95% less indolic compounds than the parental strain when grown in LGIP medium supplemented with L-tryptophan. HPLC chromatograms of the wild-type strain revealed the presence of IAA and of the biosynthetic intermediates indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA) and indole-3-lactate (ILA). In contrast, the HPLC profiles of both mutants showed no IAA but only a large peak of non-metabolized tryptophan and low levels of IPyA and ILA were detected. Molecular characterization revealed that Gdiaa01 and Gdiaa34 mutants had unique Tn5 insertions at different sites within the GDI2456 open read frame, which is predicted to encode a L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO). GDI2456 (lao gene) forms a cluster with GDI2455 and GDI2454 ORFs, which are predicted to encode a cytochrome C and an RidA protein, respectively. RT-qPCR showed that transcript levels of lao. cccA, and ridA genes were reduced in the Gdiaa01 as compared to PAL5T. In addition, rice plants inoculated with Gdiaa01 showed significantly smaller root development (length, surface area, number of forks and tips) than those plants inoculated with PAL5T. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that G. diazotrophicus PAL5T produces IAA via the IPyA pathway in cultures supplemented with tryptophan and provides evidence for the involvement of an L-amino acid oxidase gene cluster in the biosynthesis of IAA. Furthermore, we showed that the mutant strains with reduction in IAA biosynthesis ability, in consequence of the lower transcription levels of genes of the lao cluster, had remarkable effects on development of rice roots.

ß-(1 → 3)-Glucanolytic yeasts from Brazilian grape microbiota: production and characterization of ß-glucanolytic enzymes by Aureobasidium pullulans 1WA1 cultivated on fungal Mycelium.

A total of 95 yeast strains were isolated from the microbiota of different grapes collected at vineyards in southern Brazil. The yeasts were screened for ß-(1 → 3)-glucanases using a newly developed zymogram method that relies upon the appearance of clearance zones around growing colonies cultured on agar­botryosphaeran medium and also by submerged fermentation on nutrient medium containing botryosphaeran, a (1 → 3),(1 → 6)-ß-d-glucan. Among 14 ß-(1 → 3)-glucanase-positive yeasts identified, four strains produced the highest ß-glucanolytic activities and were evaluated for enzyme production on cellobiose, botryosphaeran, and mycelial biomass from Botryosphaeria rhodina (MAMB-05). Yeast strain 1WA1 produced the highest ß-(1 → 3)-glucanase and ß-glucosidase activities and was identified by molecular characterization as Aureobasidium pullulans. The physicochemical properties of the crude ß-glucanolytic enzyme preparation were characterized, and the preparation was used to hydrolyze several ß-d-glucans (laminarin, botryosphaeran, lasiodiplodan, pustulan, and curdlan). The production and physicochemical properties of the ß-glucanolytic preparation enable its potential applications in wine enology and production of prebiotics through hydrolysis of ß-d-glucans.

Agrobacterium-mediated insertional mutagenesis of the ochratoxigenic fungus Aspergillus westerdijkiae.

Aspergillus westerdijkiae is a potent ochratoxin A (OTA) producer that has been found in coffee beans. OTA is known to have nephrotoxic effects and carcinogenic potential in animal species. Here we report for the first time the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for Aspergillus westerdijkiae and the generation of ochratoxin-defective mutants. Conidia were transformed to hygromycin B resistance using strain AGL-1 of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The obtained transformation frequency was up to 47 transformants per 10(6) target conidia. Among 600 transformants, approximately 5% showed morphological variations. Eight transformants with consistently reduced OTA production were obtained. Two of these transformants did not produce OTA (detection limit: 0.1 microg/kg); the other six mutants produced lower amounts of OTA (1%-32%) compared with the wild-type strain. By using thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction, we successfully identified a putative flavin adenine dinucleotide monooxygenase gene.

Survival of endophytic diazotrophic bacteria in soil under different moisture levels

Neste trabalho foi avaliado o efeito da umidade do solo na sobrevivência de três espécies de bactérias diazotróficas (Azospirillum amazonense, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus e Azospirillum brasilense). O teor de umidade apresentou pouca influência na sobrevivência de A. brasilense, considerada uma espécie cosmopolita, enquanto A. amazonense e G. diazotrophicus, consideradas endofíticas, aumentaram o período de culturabilidade na presença de umidade no solo. Os resultados demonstram que o teor de umidade do solo possui maior influência nas espécies endofíticas, em comparação às espécies associativas.