How Deep Can the Endophytic Mycobiome Go? A Case Study on Six Woody Species from the Brazilian Cerrado.

Elucidating the complex relationship between plants and endophytic fungi is very important in order to understand the maintenance of biodiversity, equity, stability, and ecosystem functioning. However, knowledge about the diversity of endophytic fungi from species of the native Brazilian Cerrado biome is poorly documented and remains largely unknown. These gaps led us to characterize the diversity of Cerrado endophytic foliar fungi associated with six woody species (Caryocar brasiliense, Dalbergia miscolobium, Leptolobium dasycarpum, Qualea parviflora, Ouratea hexasperma, and Styrax ferrugineus). Additionally, we investigated the influence of host plant identities on the structure of fungal communities. Culture-dependent methods coupled with DNA metabarcoding were employed. Irrespective of the approach, the phylum Ascomycota and the classes Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes were dominant. Using the cultivation-dependent method, 114 isolates were recovered from all the host species and classified into more than 20 genera and 50 species. Over 50 of the isolates belonged to the genus Diaporthe, and were distributed into more than 20 species. Metabarcoding revealed the phyla Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota. These groups are reported for the first time as components of the endophytic mycobiome of Cerrado plant species. In total, 400 genera were found in all host species. A unique leaf endophytic mycobiome was identified in each host species, which differed not only by the distribution of fungal species, but also by the abundance of shared species. These findings highlight the importance of the Brazilian Cerrado as a reservoir of microbial species, and emphasize how endophytic fungal communities are diversified and adapted.

Yeasts in native fruits from Brazilian neotropical savannah: occurrence, diversity and enzymatic potential / Leveduras em frutos nativos do Cerrado: ocorrência, diversidade e potencial enzimático

Cerrado is the second largest phytogeographic domain in Brazil, with a huge ethnobotany variety, including fruit species that stand out for their economic, industrial, biotechnological and medicinal potential. The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity of culturable yeasts and their potential for the production of hydrolytic enzymes in fruits of 13 species of native plants of the Cerrado in Brazil. Sequencing the 26S rRNA gene identified the isolates. The enzymatic potential was evaluated using specific substrates for the enzymes amylases, cellulases, proteases, and pectinases. Nine of the 13 fruit species analyzed showed yeast growth, totaling 82 isolates, identified in 26 species. The phylum Ascomycota predominated over Basidiomycota. The fruits of Butia capitata presented the highest species richness. Candida and Meyerozyma were the most frequent genera. About 57% of the isolates were able to produce at least one of the enzymes analyzed. The species Papiliotrema flavescens, Hanseniaspora meyeri, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa produced all the enzymes tested. The results were found to expand the knowledge about the yeast communities present in fruits of the Cerrado native plants, evidencing the presence of species shared among the plants, and their potential for biotechnological use in the future.

O Cerrado é o segundo maior domínio fitogeográfico do Brasil, com grande variedade etnobotânica, incluindo espécies frutíferas que se destacam por seu potencial econômico, industrial, biotecnológico e medicinal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a diversidade de leveduras cultiváveis e seu potencial para a produção de enzimas hidrolíticas em frutos de 13 espécies de plantas nativas do Cerrado brasileiro. O sequenciamento do gene 26S rRNA identificou os isolados. O potencial enzimático foi avaliado utilizando substratos específicos para as enzimas amilases, celulases, proteases e pectinases. Nove das 13 espécies de frutos analisadas apresentaram crescimento de levedura, totalizando 82 isolados, identificados em 26 espécies. O filo Ascomycota predominou sobre Basidiomycota. Os frutos de Butia capitata apresentaram a maior riqueza de espécies. Candida e Meyerozyma foram os gêneros mais frequentes. Cerca de 57% dos isolados foram capazes de produzir pelo menos uma das enzimas analisadas. As espécies Papiliotrema flavescens, Hanseniaspora meyeri, Meyerozyma guilliermondii e Rhodotorula mucilaginosa produziram todas as enzimas testadas. Os resultados encontrados ampliam o conhecimento sobre as comunidades de leveduras presentes nos frutos das plantas nativas do Cerrado, evidenciando a presença de espécies compartilhadas entre as plantas, e seu potencial para uso biotecnológico no futuro.

Signaling defense responses of upland rice to avirulent and virulent strains of Magnaporthe oryzae.

Rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) can cause large losses in crop yields, especially in upland rice systems. Avirulent strains of M. oryzae can induce resistance to subsequent attacks by virulent strains in plants. This study aimed to investigate the defense responses in upland rice challenged with a virulent strain of M. oryzae after acclimation with an avirulent strain. The avirulent strain decreased rice blast severity in the challenged plants. Induced resistance was characterized by a hypersensitive response and early accumulation of phenolic compounds. Scanning electron microscopy showed that M. oryzae conidia germinate and form appressoria, but do not colonize leaf tissues. The activities of pathogenesis-related proteins, total phenolic compounds, and salicylic acid (SA) were affected by acclimation to the avirulent strain. The activities of ß-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and peroxidase, as well as the SA levels explained most of the variability in the rice plant responses to M. oryzae. In addition, OsXa13, OsMAPKKK74, OsAOS2, OsACO7, and OsMAS1 expression was modulated depending on the virulence of the M. oryzae strains. This modulation in gene expression is critical for infection and some of these mechanisms are targeted by effectors, resulting in enhanced susceptibility and pathogen infection. These results have practical importance in plant-pathogen interaction studies to identify resistance-relevant mechanisms against M. oryzae in upland rice.

Agronomic efficiency of Rhizobium strains from the Amazon region in common bean / Eficiência agronômica de estirpes de Rhizobium isoladas da Amazônia sobre o feijoeiro-comum

To maximize the contribution of biological nitrogen fixation in common bean, it is necessary to use bacterial strains that are more adapted, competitive, and efficient in the symbiotic process. In this regard, the aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency (AE) of three bacterial strains isolated from acid soils with high Al content from the Amazon region in an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico soil (Typic Rhodustults - USDA Classification) from the municipality of Formiga, MG, Brazil. We compared their AE to that of the reference strain CIAT 899T and of two controls without inoculation (one without and another with 80 kg ha-1 of N-urea). The results indicated that inoculation with the strains UFLA 02-100 and UFLA 02-127 provides grain yield equivalent to inoculation with the reference strain and to the control with mineral N. Thus, both have potential for recommendation as inoculants for common bean.

Para maximizar a contribuição da fixação biológica de nitrogênio no feijoeiro-comum é necessária a utilização de estirpes de bactérias mais adaptadas, competitivas e eficientes no processo simbiótico. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se avaliar, em um Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico do município de Formiga-MG, a eficiência agronômica (EA) de três estirpes isoladas de solos ácidos e com alto teor de Al da Amazônia e comparar suas EA à da estirpe referência CIAT 899T e à de dois controles sem inoculação (um sem e outro com 80 kg ha-1 of N-ureia). Os resultados indicaram que a inoculação com as estirpes UFLA 02-100 e UFLA 02-127 propicia rendimento de grãos equivalente ao da estirpe referência e ao do controle com N mineral e que por isso, ambas têm potencial para ser recomendadas como inoculantes para o feijoeiro-comum.

Efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum, T. harzianum, T. longibrachiatum and T. reesei against Sclerotium rolfsii / Eficácia de Trichoderma asperellum, T. harzianum, T. longibrachiatum E T. reesei contra Sclerotium rolfsii

This work was carried out to select and to evaluate efficacy of Trichoderma isolates to control sclerotium wilt (Sclerotium rolfsii) of common-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). For the experiments were used two isolates of S. rolfsii UB 193 and UB 228. Sixty-five Trichoderma spp. isolates were tested and the following ones were selected in vitro for the in vivo tests: 5, 11, 12, 15, 102, 103, 127, 136, 137, 1525 (T. longibrachiatum), 1637 (T. reesei), 1642, 1643 (T. harzianum), 1649 (T. harzianum), 1700 (T. asperellum) and EST 5. The most promising isolates were identified by Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1, ITS2, and the 5.8s rRNA genomic region, using the ITS5 and ITS4 primers and compared with sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. These selected isolates 1649 (T. harzianum), 1525 (T. longibrachiatum) and 1637 (T. reesei) were tested for evaluation of sclerotial germination inhibition under laboratory conditions, and to evaluate the effects of these on disease of bean plants under greenhouse conditions. The Trichoderma isolates 1649, 1525 and 1637 were more efficient in reducing sclerotial germination. In addition to 1649, 1525 and 1637, the isolates 5, 12, 102 and 1525 (T. longibrachiatum) significantly reduced de amount of diseased bean plants under greenhouse conditions.

O estudo teve como objetivo selecionar e testar isolados de Trichoderma spp. para o controle da murcha-por-esclerócio (Sclerotium rolfsii) em feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris) em casa-de-vegetação. Nos ensaios realizados foram utilizados dois isolados de S. rolfsii (UB 193 e UB 228). Dos 65 isolados Trichoderma testados in vitro selecionaram-se os seguintes: 5, 11, 12, 15, 102, 103, 127, 136, 137, 1525 (T. longibrachiatum), 1637 (T. reesei), 1642 (T. longibrachiatum), 1643 (T. harzianum), 1649 (T. harzianum), 1700 (T. asperellum) e EST 5. Os isolados mais promissores foram identificados por sequenciamento das regiões genômicas ITS1, ITS2 e 5.8s rRNA, usando iniciadores ITS5 e ITS4, e então, tais sequencias foram comparadas com as sequências do banco de dados do "National Center for Biotechnology Information" (NCBI). Esses isolados foram avaliados quanto ao efeito sobre a germinação de esclerócios do patógeno em laboratório e sobre a doença em casa de vegetação. Os isolados 1649 (T. harzianum), 1525 (T. longibrachiatum) e 1637 (T. reesei) foram os mais eficientes na inibição da germinação de esclerócios de S. rolfsii em laboratório. Além dos isolado 1649, 1525 e 1637, os isolados 5, 12, 102 e 1525 (T. longibrachiatum) foram eficientes na redução da doença em plantas de feijoeiro em casa de vegetação.