The production of primary and secondary metabolites in leaves of A. colubrina can be maximised by mycorrhization, with the benefit depending on supplementation of soil phosphate.

No abstract

-(Infectivity potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi present in area of native and mining disturbed "caatinga" in the state of Bahia, Brazil). The aims of this work were to quantify the spores and the most probable number of AMF propagules in soils from the Caraíba Mining, Bahia; to detect the effect of the season in the dynamics of AMF propagules and to determine the effects of mining on the potential of mycorrhizal infectivity. Soil samples were collected in the dry (August/98) and rainy seasons (February/99), from six subareas of the copper mining area: 1 -site that receives the waste product; 2 -the industrial area surroundings; 3 -low grade deposits; 4 -preserved "caatinga"; 5 -interface between the caatinga and the waste product area; 6 -site for extracting top soil for purpose of land filling. Thirty-two plant species were identified in the two meters around each collecting point. The highest diversity (21 species) occurred in the subarea 4, whereas the lowest plant diversity was observed in the subarea 3 (two species). The subareas 1, 3 and 5 presented the least spore number (< 1 per g of soil), possibly because of the high values of Cu and Fe and more alcaline pH in these soils. In general, spores density and number of infective propagules were low (< 2 per g of soil). There was no significant difference between number of spores in the dry and in the rainy seasons, except for the place 6. However, there was variation between the sub areas, with significant differences in both seasons.RESUMO -(Potencial de infectividade de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares oriundos de área de caatinga nativa e degradada por mineração, no Estado da Bahia, Brasil). Os objetivos deste trabalho foram quantificar o número de esporos e o número mais provável de propágulos infectivos de FMA em solos da mineradora Caraíba, verificando influências sazonais na dinâmica desses propágulos e determinando os efeitos da mineração sobre o potencial de infectividade micorrízica. Foram realizadas coletas de solo na estação seca (agosto/98) e na chuvosa (fevereiro/99), em seis sub áreas da mineradora de cobre: 1 -local onde é depositado o rejeito; 2 -arredores da área industrial; 3 -local onde são depositados restos de rocha com pouco minério; 4 -caatinga nativa, não impactada; 5 -interface entre a caatinga e o rejeito; 6 -local onde foi retirada a camada superficial do solo. Foram identificadas 32 espécies de plantas num raio de dois metros, a partir dos pontos de coleta de solo. Maior diversidade (21 espécies) foi encontrada na sub área 4 e menor (2 espécies) na sub área 3. As sub áreas 1, 3 e 5 apresentaram o menor número de esporos (< 1 por g de solo), possivelmente devido aos elevados valores de Cu e Fe e ao pH mais alcalino. Em geral a densidade dos esporos e o número de propágulos infectivos foram baixos (< 2 por g de solo). Não houve diferença significativa entre o número de esporos nas estações seca e chuvosa, a não ser para a sub área 6. Entretanto, houve variação entre as sub áreas, com diferenças significativas nas d...

Para determinar o efeito de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares sobre o crescimento de mudas de maracujazeiro-doce foi conduzido, em casa de vegetação, experimento com delineamento inteiramente casualizado usando cinco tratamentos de inoculação (200 esporos/planta de Acaulospora longula Spain & Schenck, Gigaspora albida Schenck & Smith, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerd., Scutellospora heterogama (Nicol. & Gerd.) Walker & Sanders e controle não inoculado), com sete repetições. A cada 20 dias foram avaliados altura e número de folhas e ao final do experimento (90 dias): diâmetro do caule, biomassa, área foliar, colonização micorrízica e densidade de esporos de FMA na rizosfera. A partir de 70 dias foram evidenciadas diferenças no número de folhas; aos 90 dias as plantas inoculadas com G. albida apresentaram maior altura que as demais, que não diferiram significativamente entre si. Plantas associadas com esse fungo apresentaram, em relação ao controle, incrementos de 2.138% e 1.430% nas biomassas fresca e seca da parte aérea, 1.937% na biomassa fresca da raiz e 2.671% na área foliar. Apesar de não existir especificidade de hospedeiro na associação micorrízica arbuscular, apenas G. albida promoveu respostas significativas no maracujazeiro-doce, indicando a existência de maior compatibilidade funcional entre esses simbiontes.

The inoculation of P. alata seedlings with Gigaspora albida is an alternative to maximize the production of pharmacologically important foliar biomolecules, especially flavonoids, with benefits that vary in accordance with the fertility of the soil.

BACKGROUND: Low-cost organic fertilizers, such as coconut powder and vermicompost, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may benefit the Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa plant. However, it has not been established whether the joint application of these inputs may increase the production of vitexin and other molecules associated with the phytotherapeutic properties of this plant. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the application of AMF and organic fertilizers maximizes the production of bioactive compounds in leaves of P. edulis. RESULTS: The inoculation of Acaulospora longula into P. edulis grown in fertilization-free soil promoted an increase of 86% in the concentration of leaf vitexin, 10.29% in the concentration of total phenols, and 13.78% in the concentration of total tannins in relation to the AMF-free control, rendering soil fertilization superfluous.CONCLUSION: The application of A. longula increases the production of foliar biomolecules, such as vitexin, in yellow passion fruit plants. Thus, the addition of coconut powder and vermicompost to the substrate composition is not necessary, leading to the commercialized production of phytomass in the herbal medicines industry.

No abstract

The São Francisco Submedium Valley is located at the Brazilian semiarid region and is an important center for irrigated fruit growing. This region is responsible for 97% of the national exportation of table grapes, including seedless grapes. Based on the fact that organic fertilization can improve soil quality, we compared the effects of conventional and organic soil management on microbial activity and mycorrhization of seedless grape crops. We measured glomerospores number, most probable number (MPN) of propagules, richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, AMF root colonization, EE-BRSP production, carbon microbial biomass (C-MB), microbial respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity (FDA) and metabolic coefficient (qCO 2 ). The organic management led to an increase in all variables with the exception of EE-BRSP and qCO 2 . Mycorrhizal colonization increased from 4.7% in conventional crops to 15.9% in organic crops. Spore number ranged from 4.1 to 12.4 per 50 g -1 soil in both management systems. The most probable number of AMF propagules increased from 79 cm -3 soil in the conventional system to 110 cm -3 soil in the organic system. Microbial carbon, CO 2 emission, and FDA activity were increased by 100 to 200% in the organic crop. Thirteen species of AMF were identified, the majority in the organic cultivation system. Acaulospora excavata, Entrophospora infrequens, Glomus sp.3 and Scutellospora sp. were found only in the organically managed crop. S. gregaria was found only in the conventional crop. Organically managed vineyards increased mycorrhization and general soil microbial activity.