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Abstract Medicinal plant microbiomes undergo selection due to secondary metabolite presence. Resident endophytic/epiphytic microorganisms directly influence plant’s bioactive compound synthesis. Hypothesizing low microbial diversity in Serjania erecta leaves, we assessed leaf colonization by epiphytic and endophytic fungi. Given its traditional medicinal importance, we estimated diversity in the endophytic fungal microbiome. Analyses included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), isolation of cultivable species, and metagenomics. Epiphytic fungi interacted with S. erecta leaf tissues, horizontally transmitted via stomata/trichome bases, expressing traits for nematode trapping. Cultivable endophytic fungi, known for phytopathogenic habits, didn’t induce dysbiosis symptoms. This study confirms low leaf microbiome diversity in S. erecta, with a tendency towards more fungal species, likely due to antibacterial secondary metabolite selection. The classification of Halicephalobus sp. sequence corroborated the presence of nematode eggs on the epidermal surface of S. erecta by SEM. In addition, we confirmed the presence of methanogenic archaea and a considerable number of methanotrophs of the genus Methylobacterium. The metagenomic study of endophytic fungi highlighted plant growth-promoting yeasts, mainly Malassezia, Leucosporidium, Meyerozyma, and Hannaella. Studying endophytic fungi and S. erecta microbiomes can elucidate their impact on beneficial bioactive compound production, on the other hand, it is possible that the bioactive compounds produced by this plant can recruit specific microorganisms, impacting the biological system.

Given the increasing utilization of forest components in integration systems worldwide, coupled with the growing demand for food in regions facing water restrictions, this study aims to evaluate how physiological and biochemical parameters contribute to the diversification of adaptive mechanisms among native species and eucalyptus genotypes intercropped with soybean or corn. The native tree species Anadenanthera macrocarpa and Dipteryx alata, and the eucalyptus genotypes Urograndis I-144 and Urocam VM01, were grown in soybean and corn intercropping areas and evaluated in fall, winter, spring, and summer. The study evaluated morning water potential, chloroplast pigment concentration, gas exchange, cell damage, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Intercropped with soybean, development the of A. macrocarpa improved through instantaneous water use efficiency, energy use by the electron transport chain, chloroplast pigments, and catalase enzyme activity. On the other hand, A. macrocarpa when, intercropped with corn, despite increasing energy absorption by the reaction center, there is a need for non-photochemical dissipation and in the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase in response to water and oxidative deficits. In D. alata, the physiological and biochemical responses were not influenced by intercropping but by seasons, with increased chloroplast pigments in fall and electron transport in summer. However, in corn intercropping, the dissipation of excess energy allowed leaf acclimatization. The I-144 and VM01 genotypes also showed no significant differences between intercrops. The results describe photosynthetic and biochemical challenges in the native species A. macrocarpa intercropped with corn, such as a greater need for enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense mechanisms in response to more negative water potential. In D. alata, the challenges are present in both intercrops due to improved mechanisms to protect the photosynthetic apparatus. The survival of the I-144 genotype may be inefficient in both intercrops under prolonged drought conditions, as it modifies the photosystem; in contrast, genotype VM01 was the most adapted to the system for using captured energy, reducing water loss and being resilient.

Abstract Background The recovery process of degraded areas with the implantation of orchards of native species is still little known. Thus, we intend to evaluate the physiological performance of Hancornia speciosa during different seasons of the year, cultivated in full sun and in intercropping for recovery of degraded areas. Methods Intercropping with Syagrus oleracea (double intercropping); with annual crops (double intercropping); and with S. oleracea and annual crops (triple intercropping) were completed over two years at the beginning of each season. Crops (experimental plots) were planted using a Nelder wheel design. Results Over the two years, H. speciosa was observed to experience seasonal regulatory changes, some of which were mitigated by the intercropping. The cultivation arrangement influenced the physiology and consequently the growth of H. speciosa. Conclusions It is concluded that the double intercropping benefits the growth of H. speciosa during the formation of the orchard, and the triple intercropping does not affect growth in relation to full sun. It is recommended the implantation of orchards of H. speciosa in recovery areas through intercropping.

This study aimed to evaluate the addition of liquid cellulose, produced by Humicola grisea, in 21-day-old broiler chickens’ diets. The treatments comprised control rations of corn and soybean meal and rations to which 500 mL/t and 1000 mL/t of cellulase were added. A total of 180 male broiler chickens were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with three treatments and six replicates. Broiler chicken performance was monitored during the period from 1 to 21 days old. Significant effects were detected for digestibility only between four and seven days old, when a reduced dry matter nitrogen intake was recorded, and for nitrogen digestibility in the broilers fed cellulase-supplemented rations at a dose of 1000 m/L. Among the analyzed digestive organs, only the biometrics of the large intestine were affected significantly at seven days old. The absolute weights of the liver and pancreas and the activities of amylase, alkaline phosphatase, and transaminases were not affected significantly, indicating that cellulase did not affect the metabolism of these organs. No significant effect was detected in the serum for electrolytes, total protein, or alkaline phosphatase. So, the addition of liquid cellulase produced by Humicola grisea did not affect performance and metabolism in 21-day-old broiler chickens.

Glycerin contributes to the animal’s energy metabolism as an important structural component of triglycerides and phospholipids. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with 0, 5, 10, and 15% of glycerin in terms of performance, digestibility, carcass yield, relative weights of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) organs, and nutrient metabolism. Four hundred chickens (40.0 g ± 0.05 g) were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates. Growth parameters were measured at 7, 14, 21, and 42 days. Digestibility of crude protein and fat, carcass yield, relative weights of GIT organs, and biochemical blood profile were measured. The results were subject to an analysis of variance by Tukey’s HSD test (p > 0.05). The inclusion of 5%, 10%, or 15% of glycerin did not influence performance or affect the crude protein and fat digestibility in broilers (p > 0.05) when compared to that of the basal (0%) diet. Similarly, the supplementation of glycerin levels showed no significant influence (p > 0.05) on the relative GIT organ weights, carcass yield, or nutrient metabolism. Thus, we concluded that glycerin may be included in the broilers’ diets in rations of up to 15%.

The cellulose present in the cell wall of vegetables prevents the greater release of nutrients to the animal. Therefore, the use of the cellulase enzyme is a viable strategy as it is capable of breaking cellulose bonds, releasing nutrients such as glucose, increasing dietary energy, and thus improving the productive performance of birds. Trichoderma reesei is efficient in the production of cellulase, which is produced via submerged fermentation followed by purification, formulation, and drying. Therefore, an experiment was carried out using 240 male broilers of the Cobb-500® lineage to verify the effects resulting from the addition of powdered (500 g/t and 1000 g/t) and liquid (500 mL/t) cellulase over a period of 1 to 21 days. A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of four treatments with six replications and ten birds per replication that were housed in an experimental cage. It was observed that performance and digestibility results were significantly different with cellulase supplementation. Also, the relative weight of the large intestine in the period between one and seven days increased when cellulase was added at 1000 g/t. In the period of between eight and 14 days of life, the birds that consumed only the basal diet obtained higher levels of liver protein than those that received the treatments with the addition of the enzyme. However, 15 and 21 days, the consumed feed effect did not occur between thus, it is not conclusive whether hepatotoxicity occurs with the addition of cellulase. For the blood parameters, at 21 days, the diets with added cellulase were not significantly different regarding electrolytes. It was concluded that this cellulase produced by Trichoderma reesei can be included in the animals’ diet.

The Brazilian Cerrado region has a rich plant diversity, with fruits that have peculiar and unique sensory characteristics. For these reasons, using these fruits for biotechnological production is a promising alternative, mainly to protect this biome from deforestation and degradation. The production of fermented acetic acid is an option to add value to native fruits and offer the market beverages with better nutritional quality and bioactive compounds. This work aimed to characterize fruits and to develop cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) acetic fermented beverage. The fruits were subjected to physical-chemical analyses in the first part. Subsequently, different treatments for fermentation were tested using two types of enzymes (amylase and pectinase), two subspecies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (UFLA CA11 and thermoresistant LNF Angel), and the chaptalization of the must with sucrose (16 °Brix). Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in an incubator with temperature control at 34 ± 1 °C. The pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, alcohol content, and density of the fermented products were monitored daily. The chaptalized must with amylase addition and thermoresistant yeast had the best performance during alcoholic fermentation, demonstrating that thermoresistant yeast is an economically advantageous and efficient alternative for the cagaita juice fermentation process. Subsequently, acetic fermentation was carried out using the slow method. Heat-resistant yeast without added enzymes was used to produce cagaita acetic fermented beverages within the parameters of the Brazilian legislation. Furthermore, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in the final product were observed. The work demonstrated the possibility of using cagaita fruits in biotechnological processes to produce new food products.

Background The leaves of Serjania erecta Radlk (Sapindaceae) are renowned in ethnobotany for their medicinal properties and are significant as a medicinal resource for traditional Brazilian communities. As necrotic spots are common on these leaves, indicating interaction with phytopathogenic fungi, it was hypothesized that biotrophic fungal species colonize the leaf tissues of S. erecta. Methods To test this hypothesis, we employed standard techniques in plant anatomy, which enabled us to investigate the interaction of fungal structures with plant tissues and describe the morphoanatomical and histochemical characteristics of the epidermis and limbus of S. erecta. Results The anatomical analysis showed the existence of leaf teeth on the leaf tips. Additionally, hyphae, conidiospores, and spores of Bipolaris/Curvularia species were detected on the adaxial epidermis. Moreover, melanized microsclerotia were found in glandular areas of the leaf teeth and the phloem, providing evidence of biotrophic behavior. The hypothesis that biotrophic phytopathogenic fungi interact with S. erecta leaf tissues was confirmed, despite the presence of many bioactive compounds (such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils), as evidenced by histochemical analyses. The presence of tector, glandular, and scabiform trichomes on the leaf teeth and epidermis was also revealed. This study presents, for the first time, the synthesis of essential oils and alkaloids in the leaves of S. erecta. Additionally, it investigates previously unexplained aspects of the anatomy and histochemistry of the species, as well as its interaction with resident microorganisms. Therefore, it is recommended that future research focus on extracting and characterizing the oils and alkaloids of S. erecta, as well as exploring other aspects related to its microbiome and its relationship.

Urban vertical agriculture with lighting system can be an alternative green infrastructure to increase local food production irrespective of environmental and soil conditions. In this system, light quality control can improve the plant physiological performance, well as induce metabolic pathways that contribute to producing phenolic compounds important to human health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of RBW (red, blue and white) and monochromatic (red and blue; R and B, respectively) light associated or not with UV-B on photosynthetic performance and phenolic compound production in microtomato fruits cultivated via vertical agriculture. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, with six replicates illuminated with 300 µmol·m−2·s−1 light intensities (RBW, RBW + UV, B, B + UV, R, and R + UV), 12 h photoperiod, and 3.7 W·m−2 UV-B irradiation for 1 h daily for the physiological evaluations. Twenty-six days after the installation, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and nocturnal breathing were evaluated. Fruits in different ripening stages (green, orange, and red) were collected from microtomato plants grown under with different light qualities, to evaluate the physiological performance. The identification and quantification of the phenolic compound rutin was also performed to investigate their metabolic response. This study identified that plants grown under B + UV had high photosynthetic rates (A=11.57 µmol·m−2·s−1) and the fruits at all maturation stages from plants grown under B and B + UV had high rutin content. Meanwhile, the activation of suppressive mechanisms was necessary in plants grown under R because of the high nocturnal respiration and unregulated quantum yield of the non-photochemical dissipation of the photosystem II. These results highlight the importance of selecting light wavelength for vegetable cultivation to produce fruits with a high content of specialized metabolites that influence color, flavor, and health promotion, which is of special interest to farmers using sustainable cropping systems.

Inter-cropping between annual crops with tropical forages through integration crop-livestock systems (ICL) is considered a sustainable option to increase crop diversity and soybean productivity. In this study, we evaluated (1) the biomass production, desiccation efficiency, nutrient accumulation, and biomass decomposition of soil crop residues produced by Panicum maximum plants intercropped with maize in two different sowing methods during the second harvest and (2) investigated how soil crop residues impact the productivity of soybean. The experiment was conducted in a complete block design with three replicates. We compared conventional soybean cultivation with soybean cultivated over soil crop residues produced by a previous integration between maize and two Panicum maximum cultivars: Tamani and Zuri guinea grass, within and between rows of maize plants. Our results showed that Tamani guinea grass showed the highest desiccation efficiency. Zuri and Tamani guinea grass cultivated within and between maize plants resulted in higher biomass production and nutrient cycling potential, resulting in an increase of 28.4% in soybean productivity, compared to soybean grown without soil crop residues. We concluded that ICL system is an efficient method to increase the sustainability of soybean cultivation.

Abstract The soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens, is a primary soybean pest that reduces crop productivity. This work examined control of C. includens populations with methanolic extract of Serjania erecta, a native Cerrado plant, while minimizing risks to pollinators, natural enemies and the environment. Serjania erecta specimens were collected, identified, and subjected to methanol extraction. Bioassays were performed using newly hatched and second-instar caterpillars and different extract concentrations on the diet surface to obtain IC50 values. Two replicates, containing 10 caterpillars, were established in triplicate. The IC50 values were 4.15 and 6.24 mg of extract mL−1 for first-instar and second-instar caterpillars, respectively. These growth inhibition results informed the extract concentrations assessed in subsequent development inhibition assays, in which the pupal weight was higher under the control than under the treatments. Extract treatments increased the duration of the larval, pupal and total development. The potential of different concentrations of S. erecta extract to inhibit the enzymes carboxylesterases was also evaluated. Carboxylesterases activity decreased by 41.96 and 43.43% at 7.8 and 15.6 μg mL−1 extract, respectively. At 31.3 μg mL−1 extract, enzymatic activity was not detected. Overall, S. erecta leaf methanolic extract showed inhibitory potential against carboxylesterases.

Abstract 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.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of essential oils from the fruits of Citrus sinensis and Xylopia aromatica, included in broiler feed, on blood parameters, the biometrics of digestive organs, bone analyses, and the biochemical profiles of the viscera, as well as the histomorphometry of the small intestine. In this study, 180 one-day-old male chicks of the Cobb 500 strain were fed a corn and soybean meal over three treatments and six replications, and the experimental design was completely randomized. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance and a Tukey test at a 5% significance level. The effect of the experimental diets on performance, blood parameters, biometrics of the digestive organs, bone analysis, and biochemical profiles of the viscera, as well as the histomorphometry of the small intestine, were evaluated. The compounds identified in the essential oil of X. aromatica were sylvestrene, α-pinene, and β-pinene, while in C. sinensis they were limonene and myrcene. The essential oils of C. sinensis and X. aromatica had no significant effect on performance at 14 days. The effects of the presence of the essential oils of C. sinensis and X. aromatica on the response were beneficial: there were reductions in liver lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides, and in the depths of the crypts in the jejunum of chickens. So, the essential oils from the fruits of C. sinensis and X. aromatica can be used in broiler chickens to improve the lipid profiles of birds without affecting their performance.

Abstract Belonging to the Brazilian flora, the species Hancornia speciosa (Gomes), known as mangabeira, has bioactive compounds of interest, such as flavonoids, xanthones, and proanthocyanidins. The objective of this study was to determine how the supplementation of sugars in culture medium affects the osmotic potential of the medium, as well as its influence on cell growth and on the concentration of phenolic compounds. For this purpose, after 90 days of subculture, 20 mL aliquots of the cultures were added to flasks containing 20 mL of medium with different sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, mannitol, and sorbitol) under a 16-h photoperiod with a spectral range between 400 and 700 nm of photosynthetically active radiation (45–55 μmol m−2 s−1) in a shaker at 110 rpm. After 30 days, the pH, electrical conductivity, osmotic potential, biomass accumulation, and concentrations of phenolic compounds were evaluated. Regardless of their concentration in the medium, the sugars sorbitol and mannitol provided more unfavorable conditions for water absorption at the cellular level, reducing the water potential of the medium. Sucrose favored greater water absorption and biomass accumulation. Among the various sugar concentrations, 3% (30 g/L) sucrose or glucose improved the accumulation of fresh and dry cell weight and the production of polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rosmarinic acid, hesperidin, rutin, and quercetin. In addition, they resulted in a higher osmotic potential of the medium and larger cells than other carbon sources. Despite the differences in cell size, no culture conditions compromised cell survival.

Hymenaea courbaril L. is a fruit species widely distributed throughout the Neotropics and possibly tolerant to a range of environmental variations, including adaptation to dry soils. Therefore, we hypothesized that growth-promoting microorganisms isolated from the roots and rhizosphere of this plant affect its resistance to water suppression. We aimed at testing our hypothesis by biopriming the seeds of this species using microorganisms previously tested for the expression of functional traits associated with growth promotion, followed by cultivating this plant under a water deficit regime for three months. The inoculation effect was evaluated in terms of growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, photochemical performance, and gas exchange. Bacteria, particularly isolates of Bacillus cereus, B. thuringiensis, and Paenibacillus alvei, were more effective than fungi in promoting growth in H. courbaril L. under water suppression. However, the inoculation treatments with B. thuringiensis and Curvularia intermedia minimized the water deficit-induced photochemical damage, with the observed values being similar to or higher than those observed in irrigated plants. In general, microbial inoculation increased the photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in leaves, and the C. intermedia and B. thuringiensis inoculation induced the rates of net assimilation and carboxylation efficiency that also exceeded the average observed in irrigated plants. These microorganisms potentially assist H. courbaril L. in its dispersal through water-poor soils and, based on the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial effect observed in B. thuringiensis, could be applied in agriculture as stress reducers and growth promoters. Aiming the future production of inoculants, we indicate the use of B. thuringiensis and C. intermedia, however, we suggest that phytopathogenicity studies are previously carried out with this endophytic strain of C. intermedia. Alternatively, this work showed the expression of phytopathogenic traits by the rhizospheric fungus Penicillium shearii, possibly stimulated by drought stress conditions.

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent alternative strategies to reduce the cost and increase the production of cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) seedlings associated with different substrates. This study aimed to assess the effect of inoculating PSM and AMF in different substrates for cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) culturing. The experiment was installed with a completely randomized design, using a 4 × 2 factorial scheme, with four inoculation treatments (PSM, AMF, PSM + AMF, and Control – absence of inoculation), and two soils substrates (pure sandy substrate and mixed substrate). The substrates and microorganism had influence in cagaita seedling growth. The pure substrate conferred better performance of plant growth parameters. In this substrate, cagaita seedlings had higher stem diameter, shoot fresh and dry weight, root volume and root dry weight. The cultivation of seedlings in pure substrate inoculated with AMF and PSM provided greater Mo content in the leaves. The higher root volume of cagaita seedlings was obtained with the inoculation of PSM. A sandy substrate seems to be the most adequate for the cultivation of cagaita seedlings. In addition, co-inoculation provides higher Fe, Mg, and K content in the leaves, as this work showed.

Climate variation throughout the year affects photosynthesis and other physiological processes correlated with plant development and yield. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the physiological attributes of Coffea canephora genotypes over the year in the Brazilian Amazon and assess their relationship with crop yield. The experiment was carried out in three cultivation systems with three genotypes. The evaluations were carried out in four periods: the peak of the dry season (S1); the beginning of the rainy season (S2); the peak of the rainy season (S3); and the beginning of the dry season (S4). A dataset of gas exchange, pigment indices, chlorophyll fluorescence, branch growth, and coffee yield was obtained. The group of gas exchange variables was the main contributor to treatment discrimination and was most affected by seasons. As expected, the values of gs, E, and A were significantly lower in S1, while the values of VPDLeaf-ar, TLeaf, and IWUE were significantly higher. Our results demonstrate that climatic seasonality affects the photosynthesis of Amazonian Robustas coffee, even under irrigated conditions, particularly in response to increased VPD. The physiological variables analyzed at the leaf level, even in different periods, did not explain the differences in the yield of C. canephora.

Endophytic bacteria with multifunctional characteristics can benefit plants through different mechanisms, as well as promoting growth in an efficient, low-cost and ecofriendly way. This study analyzed the potential of the multifunctional endophytic isolate Acinetobacter lwoffii Bac109 in promoting the early in vitro growth of sugarcane seedlings. The Bac109 strain showed potential to solubilize phosphate in a solid medium (solubilization index: 3.73). In addition, the bacterium was an efficient biocontrol agent against the phytopathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Phoma sp. and Bipolaris papendorfii, showing a performance equal to or better than the commercial antifungal hygromycin B. An in vitroassay confirmed the biofilm production, which increased in the presence of sugarcane root extract. Additionally, A. lwoffiiBac109 showed a strong adhesion to the sugarcane roots. The inoculation of this bacterium in micropropagated sugarcane seedlings increased the shoot length (35 %) and regulated the nonphotochemical energy dissipation after 28 days of cultivation. At the end of the experiment, the bacterium showed a great potential for survival, with 5.72 × 107 CFU mL-1 recovered from the substrate, what is crucial for plant interaction. The results showed the potential of the biotechnology application for A. lwoffii Bac109 by evaluating multifunctional traits of plant growth promotion and by specific interactions with sugarcane, which may help to improve micropropagation protocols for this crop.

The sustainable development of agriculture can be stimulated by the great market availability of bio-inputs, including phosphate-solubilizing microbial strains. However, these strains are currently selected using imprecise and questionable solubilization methodologies in solid or liquid media. We hypothesized that the hydroponic system could be a more efficient methodology for selecting phosphate-solubilizing strains as plant growth promoters. This methodology was tested using the plant Glycine max as a model. The growth-promoting potential of the strains was compared with that of the Biomaphos® commercial microbial mixture. The obtained calcium phosphate (CaHPO4) solubilization results using the hydroponic system were inconsistent with those observed in solid and liquid media. However, the tests in liquid medium demonstrated poor performances of Codinaeopsis sp. (328EF) and Hamigera insecticola (33EF) in reducing pH and solubilizing CaHPO4, which corroborates with the effects of biotic stress observed in G. max plants inoculated with these strains. Nevertheless, the hydroponic system allowed the characterization of Paenibacillus alvei (PA12), which is also efficient in solubilization in a liquid medium. The bacterium Lysinibacillus fusiformis (PA26) was the most effective in CaHPO4 solubilization owing to the higher phosphorus (P) absorption, growth promotion, and physiological performance observed in plants inoculated with this bacterium. The hydroponic method proved to be superior in selecting solubilizing strains, allowing the assessment of multiple patterns, such as nutritional level, growth, photosynthetic performance, and anatomical variation in plants, and even the detection of biotic stress responses to inoculation, obtaining strains with higher growth promotion potential than Biomaphos®. This study proposed a new approach to confirm the solubilizing activity of microorganisms previously selected in vitro and potentially intended for the bio-input market that are useful in P availability for important crops, such as soybeans.

Pouteria gardneriana Radlk (guapeva) is a tree native to the Brazilian Cerrado with economic, ecological, and biotechnological importance. Guapeva yield is limited mainly by the seeds recalcitrance, that can be overcome by micropropagation technique and effective acclimatization. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of in vitro rooting and inoculation of plant growth–promoting bacteria (PPGPB) during acclimatization of micropropagated P. gardneriana plantlets. In the first bioassay, the presence of roots in the plantlets resulted in higher values of biometric features, such as leaf area, numbers of leaves and secondary roots, nodal segments, fresh and dry weights of leaves; when compared to plantlets without roots. Roots well established also resulted in higher levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll and a higher photosynthetic rate in micropropagated P. gardneriana plantlets. Fr the second biassay, the PGPB inoculation was done with bacteria to solubilize phosphate and phytohormone production, in addition to low pathogenic potential in the Galeria mellonella larva animal model. The inoculation of the Bac109 and BP323EB consortium in plantlets rooted in vitro had a positive effect on the root length of the plantlets during the acclimatization phase, which may favor the long-term development of the plant. This study demonstrated that both in vitro rooting and inoculation of a bacterial consortium may contribute to the growth of P. gardneriana during acclimatization, leading to higher productivity and seedling quality.

The plant tissue culture procedures for asexual multiplication of Hancornia speciosa represent an important process facilitating the preservation of selected genotypes of this threatened species and large-scale production of plantlets for population reinforcement or other utilization. However, there is no research regarding the somaclonal variation of this threatened species at molecular level. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the multiplication process in the genetic stability of H. speciosa plantlets and calluses using molecular markers. The tissue culture techniques for H. speciosa micropropagation used in this study did not influence the occurrence of somaclonal variation, which can be related to the genotypes of the donor plants and to the low concentrations of growth regulators used in tissue culture procedures adopted. The results observed here provide a reliable methodology for further studies involving micropropagation techniques with the goal of preserving selected or endangered genotypes of H. speciosa without genetic losses and producing seedlings of this species on a large scale. In addition, it was possible to verify that the donor plants used in this study showed a relatively low genetic variability.

Brosimum gaudichaudii is a plant species with medicinal relevance due to its furanocoumarin accumulation. The accumulation of these compounds in the root promotes predatory extractivism, which threatens the conservation of the species. In addition, little is known about the conditions for culturing of this species in vitro. The present study aimed to investigate how the application of different spectra of LEDs (white, blue, red, and combinations of blue and red at 1:1 and 3:1 ratios) can impact the morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of B. gaudichaudii under different in vitro conditions. To evaluate the production of furanocoumarins in its leaves, which are easy-to-collect perennial organs, we cultured nodal segments in 50-mL tubes with MS medium under 100 μmol m−2 s−1 light and a photoperiod of 16 h for 50 days. We then submitted the seedlings biometric, anatomical, biochemical, and physiological evaluations. The different spectral qualities influenced several characteristics of the seedlings. Plants grown under red light showed greater stem elongation and larger and thinner leaves, strategies aimed at capturing a higher ratio of radiant energy. Exposure to the blue/red ratio of 1:1 induced increases in the concentration of the furanocoumarin psoralen, probably due to the diversion of carbon from primary metabolism, which resulted in lower growth. Cultivation under blue light or blue:red light at 3:1 triggered anatomical and physiological changes that led to higher production of secondary metabolites in the leaves, and at the 3:1 ratio, the seedlings also had a high growth rate. These results highlight the fundamental role of light in stimulating the production of secondary metabolites, which has important implications for the production of compounds of interest and indirect consequences for the conservation of B. gaudichaudii.

The Brazilian Cerrado is a highland tropical savanna considered a biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species of plants and animals. Over the years, most of the native areas of this biome became arable areas, and with inadequate management, some are nowadays at varying levels of degradation stage. Crop-livestock integrated systems (CLIS) are one option for the recovery of areas in degradation, improving the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the soil while increasing income and mitigating risks due to product diversification. Little is known about the effect of CLIS on the soil microbial community. Therefore, we perform this pilot case study to support further research on recovering degraded areas. The bacterial and fungal soil communities in the area with CLIS were compared to an area under moderate recovery (low-input recovering - LI) and native savanna (NS) area. Bacterial and fungal communities were investigated by 16S and ITS rRNA gene sequencing (deep rRNA sequencing). Ktedonobacteraceae and AD3 families were found predominantly in LI, confirming the relationship of the members of the Chloroflexi phylum in challenging environmental conditions, which can be evidenced in LI. The CLIS soil presented 63 exclusive bacterial families that were not found in LI or NS and presented a higher bacterial richness, which can be related to good land management. The NS area shared 21 and 6 families with CLIS and LI, respectively, suggesting that the intervention method used in the analyzed period brings microbial diversity closer to the conditions of the native area, demonstrating a trend of approximation between NS and CLIS even in the short term. The most abundant fungal phylum in NS treatment was Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota, whereas Ascomycota predominated in CLIS and LI. The fungal community needs more time to recover and to approximate from the native area than the bacterial community. However, according to the analysis of bacteria, the CLIS area behaved differently from the LI area, showing that this treatment induces a faster response to the increase in species richness, tending to more accelerated recovery. Results obtained herein encourage CLIS as a sustainable alternative for recovery and production in degraded areas.

Here, we present the data on the biological effects of Hyptis spp. and Lycium spp. plant extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models of neurodegenerative diseases, which is related to the work presented in the article “Neurotherapeutic effect of Hyptis spp. leaf extracts in C. elegans models of tauopathy and polyglutamine disease: role of the glutathione redox cycle” [1]. This dataset was generated to define non-toxic concentrations of these plant extracts and to assess their impact on the motor phenotype and oxidative stress resistance of transgenic C. elegans models of two genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases: Machado-Joseph disease and Frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism associated to the chromosome 17. The impact of the plant extracts on toxicity was assessed using the food-clearance assay, absorbance being measured daily for seven days at 595 nm to quantify Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain OP50 bacteria consumption. Worm length and motor behaviour, including spontaneous and stimulated movement, were analysed using videos acquired with an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope with an integrated camera (Olympus SC30) and processed using the Image J® software and the Wrmtrck plugin. The resistance to oxidative stress induced by 240 µM juglone was assessed by determining the percentage of live animals after 1 hour of exposure.

Encapsulation via nanotechnology offers a potential method to overcome limited thermal and photo-stability of botanical pesticides. In this study, nanospheres of essential oils (NSEO) derived from Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. fruit were characterized and evaluated for their photostability and insecticidal activity against Bemisia tabaci. Three major compounds of Z. rhoifolium fruits were detected by CG-MS: β-phellandrene (76.8%), β-myrcene (9.6%), and germacrene D (8.3%). The nanoprecipitation method was used to obtain homogeneous spherical NSEO, with ≥98% encapsulation efficiency. Tests with UV/Vis spectrophotometry showed significantly reduced photodegradation from exposed NSEO samples when compared with essential oil (EO) controls. Whitefly screenhouses bioassays with bean plants treated with 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% suspensions showed EO treatments in both free and nanoencapsulated forms reduced adult whitefly oviposition by up to 71%. In further tests, applications at 1.5% caused ≥64% mortality of second instar nymphs. When the test was conducted under high temperature and light radiation conditions, the insecticidal effect of NSEO treatments was improved (i.e., 84.3% mortality) when compared to the free form (64.8%). Our results indicate the insecticidal potential of EO-derived from Z. rhoifolium fruits with further formulation as nanospheres providing greater photostability and enhanced insecticidal activity against B. tabaci under adverse environmental conditions.

The objective of the present work is to characterize the aroma of “Cerrado” cashew (Anacardium othonianum Rizz.) and cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) pulps. For this, we used headspace (HS) and two extraction methods (solid-phase extraction, SPE and solid-phase microextraction, SPME), as well as gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for identification of aroma compounds. While SPME was more efficient and extracted 17 and 21 compounds for “Cerrado” cashew and cagaita pulps, respectively, the SPE method extracted 13 compounds for both pulps. SPME showed higher modified frequency (MF), that is, compounds perceived with higher intensity and by number of judges during olfactometry. On the other hand, the results obtained in this work showed that the extraction techniques seem complementary, since some compounds were not identified by SPE, but were identified by SPME, and vice versa.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of 30-day “Cerrado” cashew juice consumption in women. “Cerrado” cashew juice was produced through enzymatic clarification after maceration of Anacardium othonianum pseudofruit. The “Cerrado” cashew juice was clarified, pasteurized, and evaluated for its chemical characteristics, and a daily intake of 400 mL was used in the pilot study of nine women. The “Cerrado” cashew juice showed high vitamin C content (30 mg 100 mL−1), and consumption of “Cerrado” cashew juice increases the recommended daily intake of manganese (56 %), zinc (22 %), iron (14 %), and copper (13 %). Consumption of “Cerrado” cashew juice improved the time to reach the maximum glucose value in the glycemic curve, the cholesterol levels (triglycerides, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and systolic blood pressure in women.

Population growth has raised food production, and new sources are needed to increase quantity and quality of agricultural products. Carbamates and organophosphates are insecticide classes used worldwide as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. Plants have a natural resistance to insects, which can be employed in pest control as a new alternative to reduce the use of chemicals. An alternative may be the use of α-amylase inhibitors, which are digestive enzymes that impair pest species growth and development. Another would be acetylcholinesterase inhibitors since they damage the normal functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system, by releasing high concentrations of acetylcholine in cholinergic synapses. This substance accumulation increases stimulations that lead to behavioral changes, asphyxia, hyperactivity, and death. Botanical agrochemicals are believed to have advantages over synthetic ones, as they are rapidly degraded in the environment. In this scenario, plants have played an important role in pest control as sources of interest for the synthesis of new molecules for agricultural use. The present study evaluated acetylcholinesterase and α-amylase inhibition by microplate method, from leaf extracts of Mouriri elliptica Martius with different polarities.

Bark is a structure involved in multiple physiological functions, but which has been traditionally associated with protection against fire. Thus, little is known about how the morpho-anatomical variations of this structure are related to different ecological pressures, especially in tropical savanna species, which are commonly subjected to frequent fire and drought events. Here we evaluated how the structural and functional variations of bark are related to the processes of resilience and resistance to fire, as well as transport and storage of water in 31 native species from the Brazilian Cerrado. Because of their thick bark, none of the trees analyzed were top-killed after a severe fire event. The structural and functional variations of the bark were also associated with water storage and transport, functions related to properties of the inner bark. In fact, species with a thicker and less dense inner bark were the ones that had the highest water contents in the wood, bark, and leaves. Lower bark density was also related to higher stem hydraulic conductivity, carbon assimilation, and growth. Overall, we provide strong evidence that in addition to protection from fire, the relative investment in bark also reflects different strategies of water use and conservation among many Cerrado tree species.

The present study aimed to determine the imbibition curve and evaluate the effects of ‘reducing the water content of cagaita seeds (Eugenia dysenterica DC.), using the radiographic image analysis technique. To this end, three assays were carried out: seed imbibition curve and root protrusion were determined in assay 1. Seeds in silica gel were oven dried for to 72 h and were then analyzed for water content and vigor in assay 2. Seeds were dried up to certain levels of the water content and were evaluated by radiographic imaging analysis in assay 3. A rapid mass gain was observed in the first 60 imbibition hours and the root protrusion reached 94.4% after 192 imbibition hours. Cagaita seeds did not tolerate drying periods longer than 24 h, which corroborates the recalcitrant behavior of the seeds of these species. The analysis of the radiographic image obtained by an X-ray test allowed the establishment of a direct relation between the increased free space area within the seed and the decrease in the seedling emergence. The drying process altered the internal morphology of the seed and such changes directly influenced the development of the seedlings.

ABSTRACT: Hyptis marrubioides (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant that is native from Brazilian Cerrado. In vitro propagation techniques make use of elicitors to alter metabolic pathways, affecting how molecules are produced both qualitatively and quantitatively. This research aimed to evaluate how abiotic elicitors salicylic acid (SA) and silver nitrate (SN) at concentrations of 30µM or 60µM influence Hyptis marrubioides seedling growth by two different in vitro culture methods. The rutin content was quantified by HPLC-DAD. Compared to an untreated culture, the H. marrubioides methanolic extracts cultured in MS medium for 10 days followed by culture in MS medium containing SN (30µM) for 20 days had 1.28 times higher rutin content. In a second experiment, seedlings were cultured in MS medium for 20 days, and then the desired elicitor was added to the culture and allowed to remain in contact with the medium for three and six days. SA (30µM) gave the best results: rutin production was 16.56-foldhigher than the control after six days. SN (30µM) increased the rutin content by 1.17-fold. At the two concentrations evaluated during the elicitation experiments, neither SA nor SN altered the growth parameters shoot length, leaf number, and fresh and dry weight of H. marrubioides seedlings grown in vitro as compared to the control. Based on these results, the abiotic elicitors SA and SN successfully provide Hyptis marrubioides with increased rutin content in vitro.

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.

The anthropization of the landscape of the Cerrado biome that has occurred over the past few decades has fragmented its natural environments, impacting the connectivity of the plant populations and altering their gene flow. Plant species may also reduce population size in response to sub-optimal climatic and environmental conditions, and observed distribution patterns may align with theoretical schemes, such as the center–periphery model, that is, it is possible that populations on the edge have lower genetic diversity than center populations, theoretically submitted to environmental conditions closer to the optimum. In this context, we evaluate whether the genetic diversity and inbreeding coefficients of Cerrado plant species are affected by landscape features and climate characteristics, and in particular, if the distribution of the genetic diversity of these plants is consistent with the center–periphery model. To do this, we conducted a literature search for genetic studies of Cerrado plant populations using Scopus, Web of Science, and Scielo databases and the species found were used as a proxy to explore patterns throughout the biome. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and multiple matrix regressions (MMRRs) to evaluate the effects of landscape features and climatic variables on the observed (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE), allelic richness (AR) and inbreeding (Fis) patterns of the local populations. The landscape was evaluated in terms of the percentage land cover of agriculture (AG), forestry (FO), remnant vegetation (RV), urban areas (UA), pasture (PA), and water (WA) within buffers of 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km around the study populations. We analyzed 121 populations of 31 plant species. The GLMMs showed that HO was affected by FO regardless of buffer size, while HE was also affected by FO, but also by WA and UA. AR was affected by WA and UA in all three buffer zones while the Fis was affected by FO and AU. The MMRRs showed that WA may affect HO, HE, and Fis within the 1 km buffer, while FO affects HO and UA affects AR within the 5 km buffer. In the case of the 1 km and 3 km buffers, however, the geographic distance between populations was identified as a factor determining the genetic diversity and inbreeding indices, indicating that isolation by distance may be an important factor defining the breeding patterns of the Cerrado plant populations. The GLMMs and MMRRs also showed that the mean annual temperature (MAT) and, to a lesser extent, isothermality (ISO) can explain the variation in genetic diversity observed in the Cerrado plant populations. We also found that the center–periphery model fits the distribution pattern observed in most of the species evaluated, including Annona crassiflora,Annona coriacea, Copaifera langsdorffii, and Eugenia dysenterica. Our results indicate that changes in the climate and the landscape of Brazilian Cerrado must be considered carefully to guarantee minimizing the impacts of these processes on the genetic diversity of Cerrado plant species and ensuring the long-term conservation of these species in this biome.

Hydroponics is an excellent alternative approach for the production of seedlings, given the growing demand for fruiting trees for the reforestation or recuperation of degraded natural landscapes. In most cases, however, little is known about the optimal period for the maintenance of the seedling in the hydroponic system. Given this, we decided to investigate the hypothesis that morpho-anatomical and physiological alterations can be used to predict the optimal timing for the transplantation of the seedlings to the soil substrate, thereby guaranteeing the most cost-effective application of the hydroponic system. We selected Hymenaea courbaril L., an important Neotropical fruit tree, as the model for this study. We cultivated H. courbaril seedlings in a static hydroponic system and evaluated morpho-anatomical, physiological, and growth parameters over the course of seedling development (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days after transplantation; DAT). We observed an interesting relationship between the increase in the density (SD) and conductance (gsw) of the stomata up to 120 DAT, which reflected higher rates of photosynthesis (A), but also a reduced efficiency in the use of water. In the subsequent intervals, the SD of the plants and the diameter of the radicular xylemic vessels elements (RVE) decreased, in an attempt to increase the efficiency of the use of this resource. We also observed an increase in the thickness of the palisade parenchyma (PP) prior to 120 DAT, which did not reflect a general increase in the thickness of the mesophyll, indicating an adjustment in the thickness of the spongiform parenchyma (SP). We also observed a progressive increase in photosynthetic efficiency up to 120 DAT, based on parameters such as the absorption flux energy per active reaction center (ABS/RC) and the photosynthetic performance index (PIABS), but after this period these indices decreased progressively. However, as the PIABS is an indicator of the plant’s tolerance, its decline was associated with an increase in the dissipation of energy (DI0/RC), which indicates that, after 120 DAT, the plant pots may become a stress factor that limit the growth of H. courbaril seedlings. The results of the present study indicate conclusively that a 120-day period is the optimum for the maintenance of the H. courbaril seedlings in the hydroponic system, and also confirm the hypothesis that the morpho-anatomical and physiological responses observed in the plants can be used to predict the ideal period for the transplantation of the seedlings, contributing to a reduction in production time of the hydroponic system.

The production of high-quality seedlings and their use in commercial planting reduce pressure on natural areas. Eugenia dysenterica DC is a native fruit tree from the Brazilian Cerrado, whose nutritional requirements are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supplementation on the physiology, growth and nutrient uptake, and use efficiencies of E. dysenterica seedlings grown in glasshouse conditions. The following rates were used in separate experiments: 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg dm−3 N and 0, 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg dm−3 P. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block with four replications. The lowest N rate (50 mg dm−3) increased the stomatal conductance (gS) and, consequently, resulted in the highest transpiration (E), electron transport (ETR), and photosynthetic (A) rates. Also, rates of 50 mg dm−3 and 100 mg dm−3 N increased the Root Uptake Efficiency (RUE) and plant Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) for macronutrients and the RUE for micronutrients, stimulating plant growth. Phosphorous fertilization resulted in the maximum values for photosynthesis, electron transport rate, total dry mass, and NUE at the 200 mg dm−3 rate. The results of this study suggest that fertilization with 50 mg dm−3 N and 200 mg dm−3 P is suitable for the development of E. dysenterica seedlings.

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.

Abstract Eugenia dysenterica DC is a fruiting species endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, belonging to the Myrtaceae family and popularly known as Cagaiteira. It has medicinal and antifungal properties, and has an important function in the ecosystem. Nevertheless, there are few studies about the maintenance of this species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth, nutrition, quality and physiology of E. dysenterica seedlings grown in fine vermiculite and rice husk-based substrates in the following combinations: 1:0, 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, in addition to Trimix® commercial substrate and vermiculite only. The physical attributes of substrates (dry and moist densities, available water, remaining water, aeration space and total porosity), seedling emergence percentage, emergence speed index, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, relative seedling water content, relative substrate moisture content, plant biometric growth characteristics, accumulated dry weight and nutritional status were evaluated through leaf macronutrient content 128 days after emergence. The increase in the proportion of rice husk mixed with vermiculite resulted in reduction of the dry and moist densities of substrates, available water, remaining water, total porosity and moisture content, and increased the aeration space in substrates. The fine vermiculite substrate promoted the highest Dickson’s quality index and the greatest stem diameter of plants. Seedlings grown on vermiculite substrate presented higher N and K content in leaves, and those grown in Trimix® substrate showed higher leaf Mg content. Substrates did not alter the physiological attributes of seedlings.

The Brazilian savanna is a mosaic of phytophysiognomies influenced by edaphic and topographic factors that range from the occurrence of fires to anthropic disturbance. The goal of this study was a comparative analysis between two cerrado areas in southeastern Goiás, relating the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation to soil properties to better understand the physiognomic characteristics of the region. Twenty-five 20 × 20 m plots were used. All plants with circumference at breast height of more than 15 cm were measured. Soil samples collected at a depth of 0-20 cm were subjected to physical and chemical analyses. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to detect possible correlations between the soil properties and species abundance and distribution. The density and total basal area were 1,647 ind/ha and 15.57 m2/ha, respectively, in Ouroana. At this site, 107 species were sampled. In Montes Claros de Goiás, the density and total basal area were 781 ind/ha and 17.62 m2/ha, and 120 species were sampled. The soil texture of Ouroana was sandy and significantly different from the medium to clayey texture of Montes Claros. The soils of both areas are dystrophic, however, more fertile in Montes Claros and aluminum-toxic in Ouroana. The species of vegetation were distributed according to soil fertility levels. The CCAs grouped species according to soil properties that defined location and abundance as well as the phytophysiognomies of the studied areas.

Micropropagation is an important tool for the multiplication of native Cerrado species. However, understanding the responses of these species under in vitro culture conditions is still incomplete. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the growth, anatomical behavior and physiology of Pouteria gardneriana cultivated in vitro under photoautotrophic conditions. Nodal segments were cultured at photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) of 75, 100 and 150 µmol m-2 s-1 in culture medium MS 50% solidified with 3.5 g L-1 of agar and 2.0 g L-1 of activated charcoal, in the absence and presence of 30 g L-1 of sucrose. After 60 days of in vitro culture, the P. gardneriana plantlets only regenerated when sucrose was present in the culture medium. Higher fresh and dry weights, higher palisade parenchyma thickness and larger stomatal polar and equatorial diameters were observed in the plantlets cultured at PPFD 150 µmol m-2 s-1. The PPFD difference used in the present study was sufficient to provide additional understanding of the behavior of this species in vitro.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of substrate on growth, emergence, nutrition, and quality of Anacardium othonianum Rizz. (cerrado cashew tree) seedlings. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory on the Rio Verde campus. The following substrates were used: 1) Bioplant®, 2) Mecplant® (MP) + carbonized rice husk (CRH) (7:3), 3) fine-grained vermiculite (FGV), 4) FGV+CRH (3:1), 5) FGV+CRH (1:1), 6) FGV+CRH (1:3), and 7) sugarcane bagasse (SB) + sugarcane mill filter cake (FC) (3:2). Emerged seedlings were counted at 2-day intervals for 38 days following emergence of the first seedling. At 39, 64, and 89 days after seeding (DAS), the following variables were measured: stem length (SL), stem diameter (SD), and number of leaves (NL). Accumulated dry weight, quality indices, and leaf macro- and micronutrient levels were determined at 89 DAS. Plants grown in the FGV and FGV+CFH (1:3) substrates had shorter stem lengths than the plants grown in other substrates. Increases in seedling growth were smaller between 64 and 89 DAS compared to the initial period of the experiment. The highest leaf N concentrations were found in the SB+FC substrate treatment group; P and K concentrations were higher for the MP+CRH (7:3), SB+FC, and Bioplant® treatments; and Ca levels were higher for the SB+FC and MP+CRH (7:3) substrate treatments. The MP+CRH (7:3) substrate treatment group had the highest leaf B and Mn micronutrient concentrations, and plants from the Bioplant® substrate group had the highest leaf B micronutrient content. Mg, S, Cu, Zn, and Fe concentrations did not differ among the different substrates. The plant traits that differed most among the treatments included stem length for the FGV and FGV+CRH (1:3) substrate groups and leaf nutrient concentrations, which were higher for the SB+FC group followed by the MP+CRH and Bioplant® treatments.

In the south-central region of Brazil, there is a trend toward reducing the sugarcane inter-harvest period and increasing traffic of heavy harvesting machinery on soil with high water content, which may intensify the compaction process. In this study, we assessed the structural changes of a distroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol) by monitoring soil water content as a function of the Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) and quantified its effects on the crop yield and industrial quality of the first ratoon crop of sugarcane cultivars with different maturation cycles. Three cultivars (RB 83-5054, RB 84-5210 and RB 86-7515) were subjected to four levels of soil compaction brought about by a differing number of passes of a farm tractor (T0 = soil not trafficked, T2 = 2 passes, T10 = 10 passes, and T20 = 20 passes of the tractor in the same place) in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement with three replications. The deleterious effects on the soil structure from the farm machinery traffic were limited to the surface layer (0-10 cm) of the inter-row area of the ratoon crop. The LLWR dropped to nearly zero after 20 tractor passes between the cane rows. We detected differences among the cultivars studied; cultivar RB 86-7515 stood out for its industrial processing quality, regardless of the level of soil compaction. Monitoring of soil moisture in the crop showed exposure to water stress conditions, although soil compaction did not affect the production variables of the sugarcane cultivars. We thus conclude that the absence of traffic on the plant row maintained suitable soil conditions for plant development and may have offset the harmful effects of soil compaction shown by the high values for bulk density between the rows of the sugarcane cultivars.

Babassu is a highly productive oil plant that is propagated from seed. Therefore, tissue culture techniques are of great importance because propagation is accelerated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of growth regulators, NAA, BAP, and KIN, on in vitro germination and on the growth of babassu zygotic embryos. Three trials were conducted. For trial (I), the interaction between NAA (0, 1, and 2 µM) and KIN (0, 1, and 2 µM) were studied; for trial (II), the interactions among NAA (0, 1, and 2 µM), KIN (0, 1, and 2 µM), and BAP (1 µM) were studied; and for trial (III), the interactions among NAA (0, 1, and 2 µM), KIN (0, 1, and 2 µM), and BAP (2 µM) were studied. At 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of culture, we assessed average seedling height, and at 120 days, we assessed germination, the germination speed index, cotyledonary petiole growth, oxidation, and the formation of shoots, roots, and calluses. The best results for cotyledonary petiole formation and average seedling height were obtained when using 1 µM of BAP in the culture medium. We also found that the 2 µM of NAA favored root formation.

The use of low quality seeds with a lower physiological reflects one of the major causes of low productivity. Thus the storage conditions of seed must be taken into consideration. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of natural and synthetic insecticides on emergence and seed storage of crambe, as these substances are essential to prevent infestation of seeds of other species by harmful organisms. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial 3 x 8 ( 8 substances and 3 storage times ) with 4 replications. We assessed the following natural insecticides: saffron, lime, ash, neem, diatomaceous earth, and synthetic: chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin; besides the control consisting of seeds without any treatment. We evaluated the percentage of emergence, speed of emergence index and time to reach 50 % of emergency. In all characteristics, it was found that no influence of neem on seed vigor. There are disadvantages in the application of the insecticides chlorpyrifos and diatomaceous earth, which interfered with the emergence rate of seeds of crambe. The seeds treated with other insecticides had different behavior of untreated seeds after 120 days of storage to assess the time that they take to reach 50 % germination.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of immersion for varying periods in different concentrations of gibberellic acid and separate methods of scarification on the germination of seeds tucum. In the first trial, testing different soaking periods (24 and 48 hours), different forms of soaking (fast and slow) and different concentrations of gibberellic acid (0 , 100 and 200 mg L-¹ ) compared to the control (water) under completely randomized design in a factorial 2x2x3. The second experiment evaluated the different scarification treatments being: physical (seed coat removal in the hilar region with the aid of a scalpel), chemical (sulfuric acid 98 PA for 2:04 minutes) and thermal (hot water at approximately 98 ° C and cold water at about 2°C for 4 minutes). In the first trial were evaluated % of contaminated seeds (seeds infected by microorganisms) and hard seeds ( who did not start the germination process , but not soiled), and in the second we assessed germination percentage (%) every two days for three months; germination Speed Index (GSI), time to occurrence of 50 % germination (T50) and Emergency Speed Index (ESI). The use of gibberellic acid was ineffective in promoting germination of Tucum (Astrocaryum Huaimi Mart.). Scarification treatments were effective in promoting germination and emergence of seedlings in the nursery and the most efficient physical removal scarification of the seed coat in the hilar region with the highest percentage of germination.

This study was performed to improve the speed of and standardize the process for the germination of macaw palm seeds. The effect of mechanical scarification (removal of the tegument in the hilum region), thermal scarification (imbibition of seeds in water at approximately 100°C for two or four minutes) and chemical scarification (98% sulfuric acid treatment for two or four minutes) were compared to a control (no scarification) in both a germination chamber and a greenhouse, representing trials one and two, respectively. The effect of imbibition speed (fast or slow) and different concentrations of gibberellic acid (0, 100 or 200 mg L-1) on the germination percentage and index of germination velocity were evaluated during a third trial. Mechanical scarification to remove the seed tegument in the hilum region enhanced the germination of the seeds in the germination chamber and seedling emergence in the greenhouse, and this type of scarification should be recommended for breaking dormancy in this species. Not obtained increase in seed germination with gibberellic acid, regardless of the application form in the seeds.

This study evaluated the effect of nitrogen sources and doses on dry matter yield and bromatological composition of xaraés grass throughout the year. The experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Faculty of Rio Verde University from October 2008 to January 2010. The experiment consisted of a randomized complete block design in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement with measures repeated in time, and four replications. We tested two nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate and urea) and four nitrogen levels (0, 200, 400 and 600 kg ha-1). The evaluations were conducted on the same plots throughout the year and during all four seasons (autumn, winter, spring, and summer). The results demonstrated that the maximum grass production of dry matter and crude protein of xaraés grass for the sources of urea and ammonium sulfate were estimated at doses of 500 and 472 kg ha-1 and 407 and 396 kg N ha-1, respectively. And for TDN level the maximum dose was 404.74 kg ha-1 N, for the source of ammonium sulfate. This result indicates that, regardless of the source, the application of increasing doses of up to 400 kg ha-1 of nitrogen in xaraés grass is sufficient to maintain a high dry matter production, associated with the nutritional value of the forage. The source ammonium sulfate demonstrated higher efficacy for xaraés grass dry matter production in the seasons evaluated, however additional studies are needed to evaluate the economical feasibility of its use.

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.

Hyptis marrubioides Epling is a native plant from Brazilian Cerrado. In this paper, the response of in vitro microplants of this species to inoculation with bacterial and fungal endophytic isolates is evaluated. HPLC-DAD analysis showed the presence of 3,4-O-(Z)-dicaffeoylquinic acid and quercetin-7-O-glucoside as the main components. GC/MS analysis demonstrated that the sesquiterpenes τ-cadinol and caryophyllene oxide were only produced in microplants inoculated with endophytic bacteria, while methyl hexadecanoate, methyl heptadecanoate and methyl (Z,Z,Z) 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate and the triterpene methyl 3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oate were overexpressed only when the microplant was treated with endophytic fungi.

Knowledge of the mineral nutrition requirements of mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) is relatively scarce and rudimentary because there is a lack of consistent data concerning its nutritional demands at different developmental stages. The aim of this research was to characterize the visual symptoms of macronutrient deficiencies and to evaluate the effects of these deficiencies on the growth, the production of dry matter, and the leaf content of mangabeira. To achieve this goal, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Goiano Federal Institute (Instituto Federal Goiano) in Rio Verde - GO, from January to June 2011 in which mangabeira plants were arranged in a random block design and grown in nutrient solutions. This experiment was replicated four times. The plants were treated with either a complete nutrient solution or a nutrient solution from which the individual macronutrient of interest (nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), or sulfur (S) had been omitted. The omission of a macronutrient from the nutrient solution resulted in morphological alterations that were characteristic symptoms of the particular nutritional deficiency and caused decreases in growth and dry matter mass production. The accumulation of macronutrients displayed the following order in mangabeira leaves: N>K>Ca>P>S>Mg.

The objective of this study is to establish an in vitro germination and cultivation protocol for murici (Byrsonima cydoniifolia A. Juss.) using zygotic embryos. Therefore, three assays were performed: in assay I, embryo asepsis was tested at exposure times of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes in 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, with or without immersion in 70% alcohol; in assay II, MS (MURASHIGE; SKOOG, 1962) e WPM (LLOYD; McCOWN, 1980) culture media were tested at salt concentrations of 25, 50, and 100%, with or without the addition of sucrose, to germinate the buds; in assay III, seedling growth was evaluated in MS and WPM culture media at salt concentrations of 25, 50 and 100%. Sodium hypochlorite (2.5%) with or without 70% alcohol was used to avoid contamination because it was not toxic to murici embryos. Water-agar was the most appropriate culture medium for bud germination, and 50% WPM was appropriate for seedling growth.