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In this study, we examined endophytic fungi in leaves of Mandevilla catimbauensis, an endemic plant species found in the Brazilian dry forest (Caatinga), and endophytic fungi’s potential to produce L-asparaginase (L-ASNase). In total, 66 endophytes were isolated, and the leaf-fragment colonisation rate was 11.78%. Based on morphology, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and partial large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA sequencing, the endophytic fungi isolated belonged to six Ascomycota orders (Botryosphaeriales, Capnodiales, Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Marthamycetales, and Pleosporales). Phyllosticta species were the most frequent endophytes isolated (23 isolates [45.1%] from two species). The Shannon–Wiener and Fisher alpha index average values were 0.56 and 3.26, respectively. Twenty endophytes were randomly selected for the L-ASNase production test, of which fourteen isolates showed potential to produce the enzyme (0.48–2.22 U g(−1)), especially Phyllosticta catimbauensis URM 7672 (2.22 U g(−1)) and Cladosporium sp. G45 (2.11 U g(−1)). Phyllosticta catimbauensis URM 7672 was selected for the partial optimisation of L-ASNase production because of its ability to generate considerable amounts of enzyme. We obtained the highest L-ASNase activity (3.47 U g(−1)), representing an increase of 36.02% in enzymatic production, under the following experimental conditions: a pH of 4.2, 1.0% inoculum concentration, and 2.5% L-asparagine concentration. Our study showed that M. catimbauensis harbours an important diversity of endophytic fungi with biotechnological potential for L-ASNase production. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42770-021-00505-3.

The Brazilian dry forest (Caatinga) is located in one of the world's largest tropical semiarid regions, and it occurs on two large geological environments named the crystalline and sedimentary basins. In order to determine the structure and the main drivers of the composition of communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the Caatinga, we collected soil samples from the rhizosphere of Jatropha mollissima, J. mutabilis, and Mimosa tenuiflora, species that occur in crystalline and sedimentary areas. Ninety-six AMF taxa were identified from soils collected directly in the field and trap cultures. Acaulospora, Glomus, and Rhizoglomus represented almost 49% of the taxon richness. The composition of the AMF communities differed between the crystalline and sedimentary areas and between the rhizospheres of the three plant species. Coarse sand, total sand, natural clay, calcium, soil particles density, flocculation, pH, and base saturation were the principal edaphic variables related to the distribution of these organisms. We registered nine and 17 AMF species classified as indicators, for the geological environments and plant species, respectively. Glomerospores of Glomerales predominated in crystalline basins, whereas glomerospores of Gigasporales prevailed in sedimentary areas; among the plant species, lower number of glomerospores of Archaeosporales and Glomerales was recorded in the rhizosphere of J. mollissima. The results show that the AMF community composition is shaped by geological environments and plant hosts. In addition, soil characteristics, mainly physical attributes, significantly influence the structure of Glomeromycota communities occurring in areas of the Brazilian semiarid.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic associations with higher plants, which support the establishment and maintenance of plant communities across a range of environments, including those adversely affected by anthropogenic activity as well as natural sites. This study aimed at determining the diversity and distribution of AMF in areas of the tropical semi-arid region of Caatinga, Brazil, and compare areas in a naturally preserved state with anthropized sites. We characterized AMF communities in soil samples (n = 108), based on morphological taxonomy, at three sampling occasions and from six areas (typical Caatinga, extremely sandy Caatinga, stony Caatinga, rocky Caatinga, and two typical Caatinga areas that had been modified by human activities), at the National Park of Catimbau, Northeast Brazil. Eighty AMF species were recorded, with Glomus and Acaulospora predominating at all sites. There were significant differences in the composition of AMF communities between natural and anthropized sites, and among sampling occasions. Habitat-types also influenced AMF communities in Caatinga. Extensive tropical dry forest areas, such as the Catimbau National Park possess distinct niches, which maintain diverse AMF communities that are determined by anthropogenic activities, as well as vegetation types and environmental conditions.

The objective of this study was to determine the species richness, diversity, and communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), based on the morphology of their spores, in maize plantations along an edaphoclimatic gradient going from a humid zone (original area of Atlantic rainforest), to a transition zone and a drier zone (original area of Caatinga), to increase the understanding of the ecology of AMF in tropical agroecosystems. We extracted glomerospores from soil samples from maize plantations in each mesoregion and analysed AMF propagules and community structure. A total of 57 AMF taxa were identified, of which two are new to science. The most probable number of AMF infective propagules did not differ among the three areas. A greater number of glomerospores was obtained from the transition site, whereas species richness for AMF differed between the high humidity and transition sites. The composition of AMF communities differed among sites, with edaphic attributes significantly associated with AMF community composition. The environmental conditions of each mesoregion contribute to the structural differences of AMF assemblages in soils cultivated by the same host plant (maize).

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in the maintenance of the balance of terrestrial ecosystems, but little is known about the biogeography of these fungi, especially on tropical islands. This study aims to compare AMF community structure along a transect crossing a fluvial-marine island and relate these communities with soil and vegetation parameters to shed light on the forces driving AMF community structure on a local scale. We tested the hypothesis that the composition of AMF communities changes across the island, even within short distances among sites, in response to differences in edaphic characteristics and vegetation physiognomies. We sampled roots and soils in five different natural and degraded habitats: preserved mangrove forest (MF), degraded mangrove forest (MD), natural Restinga forest (RF), and two regeneration Restinga forests (RR1 and RR2) on Ilha da Restinga, northeastern Brazil. We determined the mycorrhizal colonization rate and AMF community structure based on morphological spore identification. The island soils were sandy with pH varying from acid to neutral; higher levels of organic matter were registered in RF and lower in MF; other chemical and physical soil attributes differed along the habitat types on the island. In total, 22 AMF species were identified, without any difference in species richness. However, the diversity and composition of AMF communities, spore abundance per families, and mycorrhizal colonization were statistically different among the habitats. The composition of AMF communities was strongly related to soil characteristics, especially the sum of exchangeable bases. Our results indicate that the different habitat types have diverse AMF communities even within short distances among habitats. In conclusion, islands with high spatial heterogeneity in soil parameters and diverse vegetation are potential refuges for the diversity conservation of AM fungi. Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-06T23:54:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Changesarbuscular.pdf: 1192099 bytes, checksum: df199fc5c030c2aebd8b86efe24b5a3e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-08

Here, we describe a new ornamented arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Racocetra crispa sp. nov. isolated from maize fields from the central region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. For the first time, a Glomeromycotina species is described using a long continuous nuclear rDNA sequence fragment, which encompasses the nearly complete 18S SSU sequence gene until the 3′ end of the D2 region of the 28S LSU (~ 3100 bp), which allows for comparison with sequences obtained from regions used for fungal metagenomic studies, species description, and AM fungi DNA-barcode. The new species forms dark brown to black spores, approx. 340–510 μm on in diam., on sporogenous cells. The spores have unique “cloud/flower” projections on the spore surface, two walls, and differentiate a multiple-lobed germ shield with up to 8–12 germ tube initiations. The analysis of the intra- and interspecific DNA-barcode sequence variation within the Racocetra showed that the intragenomic polymorphism among the clones of R. crispa (0–2 %) is within the lower range for the genus. The V3–V4 region of the SSU nrDNA has no resolution to discriminate Racocetra at species level, but from this fragment, we found homology between R. crispa and environmental sequences from two metagenomics studies, one carried out in Brazil at the fungus type location and the other in New Zealand. The integration between AM fungal sequences from reference strains and those obtained from environmental sequences in Glomeromycotina is still a problematic issue, mainly due to the reduced number of AM fungal species characterized based on DNA sequences.

We studied the fungal endophyte community of the leaves of Myracrodruon urundeuva in Brazil along with their potential to produce L-asparaginase. In total, 187 endophytes were isolated. The colonization rate of leaf fragments from caatinga (10.41 %) was lower than those from brejo de altitude (39.58 %). Sequences of ITS rDNA from all endophytes revealed relationships with Ascomycota (Botryosphaeriales, Chaetothyriales, Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Glomerellales, Hypocreales, and Pleosporales) and Basidiomycota (Polyporales). The most frequent endophytes were members of the genus Diaporthe. Talaromyces was an indicator genus for caatinga while Phyllosticta, Diaporthe, and Colletotrichum were for brejo de altitude. The composition of endophytic fungi in caatinga and brejo de altitude differed significantly, its richness and diversity (H' = 3.41) being significantly higher in brejo de altitude. Diaporthe sp. URM 7793 was the best producer of L-asparaginase (2.41 U/g), followed by Diaporthe sp. URM 7779 (2.00 U/g), Talaromyces sp. URM 7785 (1.91 U/g), and Diaporthe sp. URM 7792 (1.47 U/g). The composition of endophytic fungi assemblages is strongly influenced by the type of ecosystem. In its natural habitat, M. urundeuva harbors an important diversity of endophytes, which could be used to produce L-asparaginase.

Plants host, environmental characteristics and dispersal limitation are the main factors affecting the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in global scale, whereas at the local scale other factors might also influence the composition of the AMF community. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the diversity of AMF and to relate it with the richness of plant species, season (dry or rainy) and soil parameters along an environmental gradient to know which are the drivers of the spatial distribution of AMF in the Brazilian semiarid. The gradient was composed of a dry forest (DF), a transitional zone (TZ) and a moist forest (MF). Ten soil samples were collected during the rainy (August 2011) and dry (February 2012) seasons in each site. The soil properties were determined, as well as AMF diversity, the latter based on morphological spore identification. There were significant differences between the DF and the other two areas in most soil chemical parameters, whereas the majority of soil attributes in the MF and TZ were similar. Altogether, 50 AMF species were identified, and the genera Acaulospora and Glomus were predominant. The AMF community structure in DF was significantly different from the other two areas by ordination (NMDS) and statistical method (PERMANOVA). However, the highest species diversity, based on the Shannon index, occurred in the TZ. The AMF community structure differed between seasons, with greater spore abundance in the dry season. Spatial AMF distribution was influenced by plants host, season, but the soil was the main factor. Four edaphic attributes showed approximately 60% of correlation with AMF community composition (Zn, Mg, base saturation and clay) based on the BIO-ENV analysis. We conclude that vegetation, seasonal variations and soil type affect the AMF diversity, and that the latter is a key factor for the similarity/dissimilarity of AMF communities between areas in the Brazilian semiarid.

Although sandy coastal plains are important buffer zones to protect the coast line and maintain biological diversity and ecosystem services, these ecosystems have been endangered by anthropogenic activities. Thus, information on coastal biodiversity and forces shaping coastal biological diversity are extremely important for effective conservation strategies. In this study, we aimed to compare arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities from soil samples collected on the mainland and nearby islands located in Brazilian sandy coastal plain ecosystems (Restingas) to get information about AM fungal biogeography and identify factors shaping these communities. Soil samples were collected in 2013 and 2014 on the beachfront of the tropical sandy coastal plain at six sites (three island and three mainland locations) across the northeast, southeast, and south regions of Brazil. Overall, we recorded 53 AM fungal species from field and trap culture samples. The richness and diversity of AM fungal species did not differ between mainland and island locations, but AM fungal community assemblages were different between mainland and island environments and among most sites sampled. Glomeromycota communities registered from island samples showed higher heterogeneity than communities from mainland samples. Sandy coastal plains harbor diverse AM fungal communities structured by climatic, edaphic, and spatial factors, while the distance from the colonizing source (mainland environments) does not strongly affect the AM fungal communities in Brazilian coastal environments.

Coastal areas are multifunctional ecosystems that present diversity of biotic and abiotic components, constituting biological areas highly valuable. However, these areas have been severely affected by anthropogenic activities, resulting in loss of important habitats. In this context, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in the establishment and survival of plants inhabiting coastal areas, with several studies about the benefits provided for the symbiosis reported around the world. Furthermore, studies conducted in coastal dunes located in tropical regions have allowed verify that they are an important source of AMF species with a high AMF diversity associated with the coastal vegetation, which reinforce the importance of broadening the AMF studies in the tropical coastal areas.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) comprise the largest association of plants and fungi in nature yet have only recently been considered within the context of conservation biology. The aim of this work was to document the occurrence of AMF species and highlight recent advances in our knowledge of their diversity in Northeast Brazil. This new information has been generated by the Sisbiota-Brazil Program (National System of Biodiversity Research) and provides the basis for a discussion on the AMF species found in the region. The work included a bibliographic review of the records from natural and agricultural area plus data generated by collections made in natural areas in six of the nine northeastern states during the period 2010-2013. Overall we recorded 28 genera and 125 species of AMF. Of these, 11 were new species, 13 represented new records for Brazil and six were unique to the Northeast. This represents a 25% increase in our knowledge of the diversity of AMF in the region. We can now estimate that the Northeast represents about 50% of the AMF species described worldwide. This finding reinforces the need for more studies in areas that are poorly studied in order to extend our understanding of this biodiversity and to help to define future strategies for management and conservation.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de determinar a infectividade, a riqueza de FMA e a condição micorrízica da vegetação em área de Caatinga não antropizada. Coleta de solo e raízes foi realizada em Triunfo/PE. Raízes foram examinadas para determinação da colonização micorrízica. O número mais provável (NMP) de propágulos infectivos de FMA foi estimado por diluições sucessivas do solo e a utilização de milho (Zea mays L.) como planta isca. Glomerosporos foram quantificados e preparados em lâminas, para identificação das espécies. As plantas apresentaram-se pouco colonizadas (média < 10%) e o número de glomerosporos foi baixo (< 1 glomerosporo g-1 de solo), como registrado em outras áreas de Caatinga. O NMP de propágulos de FMA variou entre 64 e 70 cm-3 solo, indicando a importância dos outros propágulos (além dos glomerosporos) na dispersão dos FMA. Foram registrados 16 táxons de FMA, dos gêneros Acaulospora, Entrophospora, Gigaspora, Glomus, Kuklospora, Pacispora e Paraglomus; Glomus foi o mais representativo (sete espécies). Pacispora boliviana está sendo relatada pela primeira vez no Brasil. Os elevados teores de P na área provavelmente contribuiram para os baixos valores de colonização, infectividade e riqueza de FMA na área estudada. Confirma-se que os FMA são comuns em solos do semiárido brasileiro, com espécies de Glomus predominando nesse ambiente. The objective of this work was to determine the infectivity and richness of AMF and the mycorrhizal conditions of the vegetation in a preserved area of Caatinga. Soil and root samples were taken in two subareas in the municipality of Triunfo, PE. The roots were stained with Trypan blue, and observed with a microscope to determine if colonization of mycorrhizal fungi was present. Glomerospores were extracted from soil, counted, mounted on microscope slides and the AMF species were identified. The plants from the area showed < 10% colonization. The number of glomerospores (