This study evaluated the antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of the essential oil of Psidium guajava leaves (PG-EO), traditionally used in folk medicine. The essential oil was obtained from fresh leaves by hydrodistillation, using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The major PG-EO chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS and GC-FID as being β-caryophyllene (16.1%), α-humulene (11.9%), aromadendrene oxide (14.7%), δ-selinene (13.6%), and selin-11-en-4α-ol (12.5%). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of P. guajava leaves was determined in terms of its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microplates. PG-EO had moderate activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 200 µg/mL), S. mitis (MIC = 200 µg/mL), S. sanguinis (MIC = 400 µg/mL), S. sobrinus (MIC = 100 µg/mL), and S. salivarius (MIC = 200 µg/mL). The antiproliferative activity was evaluated against different tumor cell lines: breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and human gliobastoma (M059J). A normal human cell line (GM07492A, lung fibroblasts) was included. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated using the XTT assay and the results were expressed as IC50. The essential oil showed significantly lower IC50 values against MCF-7 and M059J lines than that obtained for the normal line, showing selectivity. Our results suggest that the essential oil of Psidium guajava L. has promising biological activities and can be considered a new source of bioactive compounds.

Globally, the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is considered as one of the most important phytopathogens, since it affects the production of several economically important crops. Further, it is difficult to control, thus increasing the use of pesticides. Therefore, the search for new substances, especially those extracted from plants, has received special attention to control this plant pathogen. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves of guava collected during the rainy and dry seasons, and also to evaluate its toxicity against S. sclerotiorum. The experiment was a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation of the leaves and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main compounds identified in the essential oil were trans-caryophyllene and ?-humulene. The essential oil at a concentration of 300 ?L exhibited 90% inhibition of the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum. This confirmed the antifungal potential of the essential oil of the guava leaves during both the sampling seasons.

The cultivation of soybean in Brazil experienced an expressive growth in the last decades. Soybean is highly demanding on nitrogen (N) that must come from fertilizers or from biological fixation. The N supply to the soybean crop in Brazil relies on the inoculation with elite strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. elkanii, and B. diazoefficiens, which are able to fulfill the crop's N requirements and enrich the soil for the following crop. The effectiveness of the association between N2-fixing bacteria and soybean plants depends on the efficacy of the inoculation process. Seed treatment with pesticides, especially fungicides or micronutrients, may rapidly kill the inoculated bacteria, affecting the establishment and outcome of the symbiosis. The development of technologies that allow inoculation to become a successful component of industrial seed treatment represents a valuable tool for the seed industry, as well as for the soybean crop worldwide. In this article, we report the results of new technologies, developed by the company Total Biotecnologia Indústria e Comércio S/A of Brazil, for preinoculation of soybean seeds with bradyrhizobia, in the presence of agrichemicals. Our results demonstrate improved bacterial survival for up to 30 days after inoculation, without compromising nodulation, N2-fixation, and yield in the field.

ResumoO presente trabalho objetivou comparar o comportamento da cultura da soja adubada com fósforo e potássio em semeadura e a lanço antecipada. Para isso foi realizado um experimento em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso com 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos experimentais foram: 1) ausência de adubação; 2) P e K na semeadura; 3) P e K antecipada; 4) P antecipado e K na semeadura; 5) K antecipado e P na semeadura; 6) metade de P e K antecipada e a outra metade em semeadura. As variáveis analisadas foram: produtividade, número de grãos por vagem, número de vagens por planta e peso de 1000 grãos. Nas condições estudadas, não houve diferença entre a adubação fosfatada e potássica em semeadura e a lanço antecipada para a cultura da soja. Assim, sugere-se optar por aquela forma de aplicação de fertilizante que garanta o menor custo. Palavras-chave: Glycine max, adubação antecipada, fertilizantes, fertilidade do solo AbstractThis work aimed to compare the soybean yield when phosphorus and potassium manuring was anticipated or at sowing. The experiment was carried out under field conditions in a dystrophic Red Latosol (Oxisol). A completely randomized block design with six treatments and four replicates was used. The treatments were: 1) no manuring; 2) P and K at sowing; 3) anticipated P and K; 4) anticipated P; 5) anticipated K; 6) half of P and K anticipated and the another half at sowing. Yield, weight of 1000 grains, number of grains per pods and number of pods per plant were evaluated at harvest. There was no difference between anticipated and sowing fertilization to soybean. Therefore, the best option to soil fertilization should be that with the lowest cost.

Communities of P-solubilizing bacteria, fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, were evaluated in two different ecosystems. Samplings taken from two areas of Atlantic forest, in Paraty -RJ, Brazil, one with a secondary forest and the other with a grass pasture were studied. Four growth media: GL (glucose and yeast extract), GES (glucose, soil extract, KNO 3 , CaCl 2 , MgSO 4 , NaCl, FeEDTA and micronutrients solution), GAGES (glucose, soil extract, arabinose, glycerol, CaCl 2 , MgSO 4 and NaCl) and GELP (glucose, soil extract, yeast extract, peptone, CaCl 2 , MgSO 4 and NaCl) were evaluated for the isolation of P-solubilizing microorganisms. The identification of P-solubilizing bacteria was based on 16 S rDNA sequence analysis, while the identification of P-solubilizing fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was based on morphology. The greatest number of P-solubilizing bacteria was isolated using GL and GELP growth media. The greatest number of P-solubilizing fungi was isolated using GAGES and GES. The bacteria were identified as Enterobacteriaceae and Bacillus sp., while the P-solubilizing fungi were identified as Aspergillus sp. Glomus macrocarpum and Glomus etunicatum were the dominant mycorrhizal fungi in the secondary forest and grass pasture area, respectively.

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-The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of several P-solubilizing fungi to solubilize aluminum phosphate and Araxá apatite as well as the synergism between the P-solubilizing fungus, PSF 7, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to promote clover growth amended with aluminum phosphate. Two experiments were carried out, the first under laboratory conditions and the second in a controlled environmental chamber. In the first experiment, PSF 7, PSF 9, PSF 21 and PSF 22 isolates plus control were incubated in liquid medium at 28ºC for eight days. On the 2 nd , 4 th and 8 th day of incubation, pH and soluble P were determined. In the second experiment, clover was sowed in plastic pots containing 300 g of sterilized substrate amended with aluminum phosphate, 3 g L -1, in presence and absence of PSF 7 isolate and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. A completely randomized design, in factorial outline 2x2 (presence and absence of PSF 7 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and five replicates were used. In the first experiment, higher P content was detected in the medium containing aluminum phosphate. PSF 7 is the best fungi isolate which increases aluminum solubilization with major tolerance to Al 3+ . Clover growth was stimulated by presence of PSF 7 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. There is synergism between microorganisms utilized to improve plant nutrition.Index terms: Aspergillus, Trifolium pratense, Araxá apatite, aluminum phosphate, symbiosis, Glomus. Solubilização de fosfatos e sinergismo entre fungos solubilizadores de fosfato e micorrízicos arbuscularesResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de solubilização de fosfato de alumínio e apatita de Araxá por diversos isolados de fungos solubilizadores de fosfato e o sinergismo entre o fungo solubilizador de fosfato, FSF 7, e fungos micorrízicos arbusculares, na promoção do crescimento de trevo fertilizado com fosfato de alumínio. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos, o primeiro em laboratório e o segundo em câmaras de cultivo. No primeiro experimento, os isolados FSF 7, FSF 9, FSF 21 e FSF 22, mais controle foram incubados em meio líquido, sob agitação, a 28ºC, por oito dias. Avaliou-se o pH e P solúvel no segundo, quarto e oitavo dia de incubação. No segundo experimento, semeou-se trevo em copos de plástico contendo 300 g de substrato esterilizado, fertilizado com fosfato de alumínio, 3 g L -1, com e sem FSF 7 e fungos micorrízicos. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, esquema fatorial 2x2 (presença e ausência de FSF 7 e fungos micorrízicos), com cinco repetições. No primeiro experimento, foram encontradas maiores quantidades de P solúvel no meio contendo fosfato de alumínio. O FSF 7 aumentou a solubilização desse fosfato. O crescimento do trevo foi favorecido pela presença do FSF 7 e fungos micorrízicos arbusculares, o que evidencia sinergismo entre esses microrganismos.Termos para indexação: Aspergillus, Trifolium pratense, apatita de Araxá, fosfato de alumínio, simbiose, Glomus.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an economically important crop, and is cultivated worldwide, although increasingly long periods of drought have reduced the productivity of this plant. Research has shown that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provides a potential alternative strategy for the mitigation of drought stress. In the present study, we measured the physiological and morphological performance of two soybean cultivars in symbiosis with Rhizophagus clarus that were subjected to drought stress (DS). The soybean cultivars Anta82 and Desafio were grown in pots inoculated with R. clarus. Drought stress was imposed at the V3 development stage and maintained for 7 days. A control group, with well-irrigated plants and no AMF, was established simultaneously in the greenhouse. The mycorrhizal colonization rate, and the physiological, morphological, and nutritional traits of the plants were recorded at days 3 and 7 after drought stress conditions were implemented. The Anta82 cultivar presented the highest percentage of AMF colonization, and N and K in the leaves, whereas the DS group of the Desafio cultivar had the highest water potential and water use efficiency, and the DS + AMF group had thermal dissipation that permitted higher values of Fv/Fm, A, and plant height. The results of the principal components analysis demonstrated that both cultivars inoculated with AMF performed similarly under DS to the well-watered plants. These findings indicate that AMF permitted the plant to reduce the impairment of growth and physiological traits caused by drought conditions.