Over thousands of years, modernization could be predicted for the use of microorganisms in the production of foods and beverages. However, the current accelerated pace of new food production is due to the rapid incorporation of biotechnological techniques that allow the rapid identification of new molecules and microorganisms or even the genetic improvement of known species. At no other time in history have microorganisms been so present in areas such as agriculture and medicine, except as recognized villains. Currently, however, beneficial microorganisms such as plant growth promoters and phytopathogen controllers are required by various agricultural crops, and many species are being used as biofactories of important pharmacological molecules. The use of biofactories does not end there: microorganisms have been explored for the synthesis of diverse chemicals, fuel molecules, and industrial polymers, and strains environmentally important due to their biodecomposing or biosorption capacity have gained interest in research laboratories and in industrial activities. We call this new microbiology Technological Microbiology, and we believe that complex techniques, such as heterologous expression and metabolic engineering, can be increasingly incorporated into this applied science, allowing the generation of new and improved products and services.

Genetic diversity and its distribution, both within and between populations, may be determined by micro-evolutionary processes, such as the demographic history of populations, natural selection, and gene flow. In plants, indices of genetic diversity (e.g., k, h and π) and structure (e.g., FST) are typically inferred from sequences of chloroplast markers. Given the recent advances and popularization of molecular techniques for research in population genetics, phylogenetics, phylogeography, and ecology, we adopted a scientometric approach to compile evidence on the recent trends in the use of cpDNA sequences as markers for the analysis of genetic diversity in botanical studies, over the years. We also used phylogenetic modeling to assess the relative contribution of relatedness or ecological and reproductive characters to the genetic diversity of plants. We postulated that genetic diversity could be defined not only by microevolutionary factors and life history traits, but also by relatedness, so that species more closely related phylogenetically would have similar genetic diversities. We found a clear tendency for an increase in the number of studies over time, confirming the hypothesis that the advances in the area of molecular genetics have supported the accumulation of data on the genetic diversity of plants. However, we found that the vast majority of these data have been produced by Chinese authors, and refer specifically to populations of Chinese plants. Most of the data on genetic diversity have been obtained for species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) category NE (Not Evaluated), which indicates a relative lack of attention on threatened species. In general, we observed very high FST values in the groups analyzed and, as we focused primarily on species that have not been evaluated by the IUCN, the number of plant species that are threatened with extinction may be much greater than that indicated by the listing of this organization. We also found that the number of haplotypes (k) was influenced by the type of geographic distribution of the plant, while haplotype diversity (h) was affected by the type of flower, and the fixation index (FST), by the type of habitat. The plant species most closely-related phylogenetically have similar levels of genetic diversity. Overall, then, it will important to consider phylogenetic dependence in future studies that evaluate the effects of life-history traits on plant genetic diversity.

Abstract:The ecological and biotechnological services that microorganisms provide to the planet and human society highlight the need to understand and preserve microbial diversity, which is widely distributed, challenging the severity of certain environments. Cataloging this diversity has also challenged the methods that are currently used to isolate and grow microorganisms, because most of the microbiota that are present in environmental samples have been described as unculturable. Factors such as geographic isolation and host preference also hinder the assessment of microbial diversity. However, prejudiced historical practices, including the prioritization of some species of microorganisms merely because they cause diseases, have long shifted research on fungi and bacteria towards medically relevant microorganisms. Thus, most microorganisms that inhabit the planet are still unknown, as is the potential of these species. Current estimates allow us to predict that the diversity of microorganisms that are present in the various terrestrial ecosystems is enormous. However, understanding this diversity is a challenge for the future of microbial ecology research.

Understanding the plastid genome is extremely important for the interpretation of the genetic mechanisms associated with essential physiological and metabolic functions, the identification of possible marker regions for phylogenetic or phylogeographic analyses, and the elucidation of the modes through which natural selection operates in different regions of this genome. In the present study, we assembled the plastid genome of Artocarpus camansi, compared its repetitive structures with Artocarpus heterophyllus, and searched for evidence of synteny within the family Moraceae. We also constructed a phylogeny based on 56 chloroplast genes to assess the relationships among three families of the order Rosales, that is, the Moraceae, Rhamnaceae, and Cannabaceae. The plastid genome of A. camansi has 160,096 bp, and presents the typical circular quadripartite structure of the Angiosperms, comprising a large single copy (LSC) of 88,745 bp and a small single copy (SSC) of 19,883 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions each with a length of 25,734 bp. The total GC content was 36.0%, which is very similar to Artocarpus heterophyllus (36.1%) and other moraceous species. A total of 23,068 codons and 80 SSRs were identified in the A. camansi plastid genome, with the majority of the SSRs being mononucleotide (70.0%). A total of 50 repeat structures were observed in the A. camansi plastid genome, in contrast with 61 repeats in A. heterophyllus. A purifying selection signal was found in 70 of the 79 protein-coding genes, indicating that they have all been highly conserved throughout the evolutionary history of the genus. The comparative analysis of the structural characteristics of the chloroplast among different moraceous species found a high degree of similarity in the sequences, which indicates a highly conserved evolutionary model in these plastid genomes. The phylogenetic analysis also recovered a high degree of similarity between the chloroplast genes of A. camansi and A. heterophyllus, and reconfirmed the hypothesis of the intense conservation of the plastome in the family Moraceae.

Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) is a native fruit tree with high economical potential from the Brazilian Cerrado. However, little is known about the essential nutritional demands of its seedlings. To determine the nutrient demands of Cagaita, a greenhouse experiment was performed, in which plants were grown under hydroponic condition to assess the growth (length and diameter of stems, number of leaves, number of nodes, volume and length of roots, area of the leaf and crown and total dry weight of the leaves, stems and roots) and nutrient concentration (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) at different time points after the plant were transferred into a nutrient solution. The seedling growth presented linear behavior until 180 days after transplantation. The total plant dry weight was 6.54 g after 180 days of transfer into the nutrient solution. The N content was positively correlated with the total dry weight and leaf area, whereas B was negatively correlated with the length of the stem and number of leaves. Macro and micronutrient concentrations presented the following order: N>Ca>K>P>Mg>S, Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cu. A principal component analysis of the different sampling times provided important information used to define the growth variables.

Knowledge about the growth and nutritional aspects of Anacardium othonianum Rizz. ('caju-de-árvore-do-cerrado'), which is a native fruit of the Brazilian Cerrado (savannah), is still incipient. The objectives of the present study were to characterize growth and nutrient accumulation of A. othonianum seedlings grown in a nutrient solution. The experiment was designed in randomized complete blocks with four replicates and six treatments, and the experimental period was 180 d after transplanting (DAT). Each treatment corresponded to an evaluation period that was performed every 30 d. During each sampling period, characteristics related to growth and nutrient accumulation in the plant were evaluated. Plant growth was continuous throughout the cycle with the following maximum values at 180 DAT: 16.76 cm for stem length, 8.09 mm for stem, 11.27 leaves per plant for the number of leaves, and 329.60 cm 2 for leaf area. The monthly rates of plant fresh matter and DM accumulation were 3.15 and 1.05 g, respectively. The accumulation of nutrients in A. othonianum seedlings had the following order: Ca > N > K > P > Mg > S for macronutrients and Fe > Mn > B > Zn > Cu for micronutrients.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic parasitic fungus that causes Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), which is currently one of the most difficult agronomic crop diseases to control. A number of plants of the Brazilian Cerrado biome have been shown to be important sources of symbiotic microorganisms with biotechnological potential, so we decided to test the potential of bacteria isolated from the dwarf jelly palm, Butia archeri (Arecaceae) for the control of the pathogenic effects provoked by S. sclerotiorum. For this, we bioprimed seeds and evaluated the effects of this biopriming on the OJIP transient patterns prior to and following infection by the phytopathogen. Plants treated with the BA48R strain of Enterobacter sp., and in particular, those treated with the BA88R strain of Bacillus cereus presented the best results in terms of the loss/gain of the physiological and symptomatological variables evaluated. The plants bioprimed with BA88R presented high post-infection levels of total chlorophyll (33.35 FCIs) and chlorophyll a (26.39 FCIs), maintained a high Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI = 18.87), and synthesized low concentrations of flavonoids (1.39). These plants also maintained high levels of PIABS (1.111) and PITOTAL (1.300) following infection, and low levels of Di0/RC (0.602), which indicates that, in the presence S. sclerotiorum, the efficiency of the photosynthesis in the plants treated with these bacteria was less affected in the reaction centers, as confirmed by the negative amplitude recorded in the L band. The present study reconfirms the importance of the use of chlorophyll fluorescence for the diagnosis of disease and conditions of stress in crop plants, in addition to demonstrating the effectivenesss of the BA48R bacterial strain and, in particular, the BA88R strain on systemic resistance induction and suppression of S. sclerotiorum in Glycine max plants, with enormous potential for the development of more sustainable agricultural processes.

-Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Mangaba tree) is a fruit tree belonging to the Apocynaceae family and is native to Brazil. The production of seedlings of this species is limited by a lack of technical and nutritional expertise. To address this deficiency, this study aimed to characterize the visual symptoms of micronutrient deficiency and to assess growth and leaf nutrient accumulation in H. speciosa seedlings supplied with nutrient solutions that lack individual micronutrients. H. speciosa plants were grown in nutrient solution in a greenhouse according to a randomized block design, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of a group receiving complete nutrient solution and groups treated with a nutrient solution lacking one of the following micronutrients: boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and molybdenum (Mo). The visual symptoms of nutrient deficiency were generally easy to characterize. Dry matter production was affected by the omission of micronutrients, and the treatment lacking Fe most limited the stem length, stem diameter, root length, and number of leaves in H. speciosa seedlings as well as the dry weight of leaves, the total dry weight, and the relative growth in H. speciosa plants. The micronutrient contents of H. speciosa leaves from plants receiving the complete nutrient solution treatment were, in decreasing order, Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>B. Index terms: Hancornia speciosa Gomes, mineral nutrition, symptoms, growth. CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE DEFICIÊNCIA NUTRICIONAL DE MUDAS DE MANGABEIRA (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) COM OMISSÃO DE MICRONUTRIENTES EM SOLUÇÃO NUTRITIVARESUMO -A mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) é uma frutífera pertencente à família Apocynaceae, originária do Brasil. A produção de mudas desta espécie em grande escala ainda é limitada pela escassez de conhecimentos técnicos e nutricionais. Para obter maiores esclarecimentos sobre o assunto, este trabalho objetivou caracterizar os sintomas visuais de deficiência de micronutrientes, avaliar o crescimento e o acúmulo de nutrientes foliar de mudas de mangabeira, submetidas a diferentes soluções nutritivas com suspensão de micronutrientes. Plantas de mangabeira foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva, dentro de casa de vegetação, no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de solução nutritiva completa e omissão individual de boro, cobre, ferro, manganês, zinco e molibdênio. Os sintomas visuais de deficiências de nutrientes mostraram-se, de maneira geral, facilmente caracterizáveis. A produção de matéria seca foi afetada pela omissão de micronutrientes, e o tratamento que mais limitou o comprimento do caule, diâmetro do caule, comprimento da raiz, número de folhas de mudas de mangaba e massa seca das folhas, massa seca total e o crescimento relativo da mangabeira, foi a omissão de ferro. Os conteúdos de micronutrientes das plantas do tratamento completo obedeceram à seguinte ordem decrescente de micronutrientes Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>B em folhas de mangabeira. Termos para indexaçã...