Abstract: Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill.) is an important woody tree in South America, however the production of quality seedlings is a major problem. Microorganisms that promote plant growth have shown to be efficient biotechnologies in the production of seedlings. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), it establishes symbiosis with several plant species and increases the accumulation of biomass and absorption of poorly mobile nutrients such as phosphorus. Here, we test the effects of two AMF species on growth, root architecture, phosphorus accumulation and gas exchange of yerba mate seedlings cultivated under different phosphorus levels. We used seedlings in a non-sterile soil, inoculated with AMFs Rhizophagus clarus SCT720A and Acaulospora colombiana SCT115A, and non-inoculated (control) treatment under five levels of phosphorus (0; 25; 50; 100 and 200% recommendation). After 90 days of AMF inoculation, plant dry biomass, root architecture and mycorrhizal colonization were determined and after 180 days, the same parameters plus photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and P content were evaluated. AMF inoculation increased shoot and root dry biomass, total root length, root volume. Plants inoculated with AMF showed higher photosynthesis rate. Phosphorus content and mycorrhizal colonization were increased almost three times when inoculated with AMF. Our findings highlight the importance of AMF inoculation for Ilex paraguariensis seedlings production, reducing the time needed in nurseries to enhance tree performance.

ABSTRACT Changes in land use management in agricultural areas can affect the biodiversity of spider families. This study aimed to evaluate spider diversity in different land use systems with capture by two sampling methods, and to identify soil properties that can modulate the occurrence of spiders. Five land use systems, representative of traditional agricultural areas, were evaluated in the west of Santa Catarina, Brazil, to establish a scale of land use intensity: native forest, eucalyptus reforestation areas, pastures, crop-livestock integration areas, and annual crops under no-tillage. The collection methods were manual from soil monoliths and soil traps. Altogether 479 individuals were captured, which were distributed among 20 families, 40 genera, and 8 species. Principal component analysis separated the land use systems and showed an association of spider families with land use in the two sampling methods. There was reduction in spider diversity as the intensity of land use increased. The manual collection method was more efficient for families of soil spiders, whereas traps were more efficient for epigeic spiders. The Lycosidae family was more resistant to environmental pressures, while Oonopidae and Amaurobiidae were more sensitive to environmental modifications. The differences in the spider communities were explained by the following soil properties: organic matter, mean weight-diameter of soil aggregates, and resistance to penetration, which were associated with the degree of anthropic intervention in the land use systems.

RESUMO O descarte de grandes quantidades de resíduos de mineração de carvão modifica quimicamente o solo e isso pode alterar a estrutura e atividade da fauna edáfica. Objetivou-se estudar os efeitos ecotoxicológicos das deposições de resíduo piritoso (carvão mais a pirita) em dois solos, coletados em Santa Catarina, Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo e Nitossolo Háplico, nas doses de 0; 2,5; 5; 10 e 20 % desse resíduo. Os testes realizados foram sobrevivência e reprodução de Enchytraeus crypticus e de germinação comAvena sativa e Lotus corniculatus. O valor de pH, independentemente do tipo do solo, diminuiu à medida que aumentou a dose de resíduo piritoso. O resíduo piritoso na menor dose resultou em efeitos negativos ao E. crypticus, como redução na taxa sobrevivência de adultos e nenhuma reprodução. Nos testes de sobrevivência e reprodução de enquitreídeos, o valor de LC50 (concentração estimada que pode causar efeitos negativos na sobrevivência e germinação em 50 % de um grupo de organismos) ficou abaixo 4 % e EC50 (efeitos negativos na reprodução) <2,5 % para os dois solos, respectivamente. A exposição de A. sativa aos dois solos não expressou efeito tóxico para L. corniculatus, no Nitossolo. Porém, no Argissolo, a contaminação causou efeitos na menor dose para L. corniculatus. No teste de germinação de sementes, somente L. corniculatus apresentou sensibilidade no Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo (LC50<4 %). A elevada sensibilidade dos organismos do solo avaliado à aplicação do resíduo piritoso influenciou-os negativamente, tanto em um curto período de tempo quanto em longo prazo.

ABSTRACT The disposal of large amounts of coal mining waste chemically modifies the soil, and this may change the structure and activity of soil fauna. The objective of this investigation was to study the ecotoxicological effects of depositions of pyritic waste (coal plus pyrite) in two soils collected in Santa Catarina, Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo (Ultisol) e Nitossolo Háplico (Hapludox), at the application rates of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 % of that residue. Survival and reproduction of Enchytraeus crypticus and germination of Avena sativa and Lotus corniculatus were tested. The pH value, regardless of the type of soil, decreased as the rate of pyritic waste increased. Pyritic waste at the lowest rate resulted in negative effects on E. crypticus, as shown by reduction in the adult survival rate and no reproduction. In survival and reproduction testing of enchytraeids, the value of LC50 (estimated concentration that can cause negative effects on the survival and germination of 50 % of a group of organisms) was below 4 %, and EC50 (negative effects on reproduction) was less than 2.5 % for both soils. Exposure of A. sativa to the two soils did not have a toxic effect, nor did exposure of L. corniculatus to Hapludox. However, in the Ultisol, contamination caused effects at the lowest rate for L. corniculatus. In the seed germination test, only L. corniculatus showed sensitivity in the Ultisol (LC50<4 %). High sensitivity to the application of pyritic residue adversely affects soil organisms, both in the short term and long term.

Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito da adição de doses crescentes de dejetos de suínos, adubação organomineral e adubação mineral sobre a abundância e diversidade da macrofauna edáfica. O estudo foi realizado no município de Campos Novos, SC, em um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, cultivado anualmente com milho (Zea mays) e aveia (Avena sativa), em sucessão e semeadura direta. Os seis tratamentos utilizados foram: testemunha (TT); adubação mineral (AM); adubação organomineral (AOM); adubação orgânica na doses de 3 t ha-1 (AO3); 6 t ha-1 (AO6) e 12 t ha-1 (AO12) de dejeto de suínos em base seca. O fertilizante mineral foi aplicado em semeadura na linha do plantio e a adubação orgânica, após semeadura do milho. A macrofauna edáfica foi avaliada utilizando-se um amostrador cilíndrico com 17 cm de diâmetro, coletando-se amostras de solo na profundidade de 0-10 cm. As amostragens foram realizadas em três épocas: a primeira em 5/5/2005 (um mês após a colheita do milho), a segunda em 9/09/2005 (sob a cultura de aveia), e a terceira em 23/1/2006 (sob a cultura do milho). A diversidade de organismos foi avaliada por meio dos índices de Shannon, Simpson e Pielou, riqueza de grupos, abundância e análise de agrupamento. A freqüência relativa das ordens foi afetada pela adição do dejeto suíno, sendo os grupos mais freqüentes Hymenoptera e Oligochaeta, variando conforme o tratamento e a época de amostragem. A maior diversidade da macrofauna foi encontrada no tratamento AOM, demonstrando que a macrofauna edáfica foi influenciada pela adição consorciada das diferentes formas de adubação.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of addition of increasing rates of swine manure, mineral fertilizers, and the combination of both on the abundance and diversity of soil macrofauna. The study was carried out in Campos Novos county, in the western Santa Catarina state, on an Oxisol cultivated with corn (Zea mays) and oat (Avena sativa) in succession and no tillage system. Six treatments were used: a control, with no fertilization (TT); mineral fertilization (AM); swine manure + mineral fertilizer (AOM); and swine manure at dry matter rates of 3 t ha-1 (AO3); 6 t ha-1 (AO6) and 12 t ha-1 (AO12). Mineral fertilizer was applied in-furrow, at sowing, and swine manure just after corn sowing. The soil macrofauna was evaluated with a cylinder of 17 cm diameter. Three samplings in the top layer 0-10 cm were carried out: the first in 5/5/2005 (one month after corn harvest), the second in 9/09/2005 (under oat) and the third in 23/1/2006 (under corn). The diversity of organism groups was evaluated by the Shannon, Simpson and Pielou indexes, group richness, abundance and cluster analysis. The relative frequency of the orders was affected by swine manure addition. Hymenoptera and Oligochaeta were the most frequent groups and they varied according to the treatment and sampling time. The greatest diversity in macrofauna was found under the AOM treatment, demonstrating that the soil macrofauna was affected by fertilization.

O fitato é a principal forma de fósforo nos grãos de cereais e leguminosas. Sua presença pode diminuir o aproveitamento digestivo de diversos nutrientes, embora recentemente tem sido demonstrado que também tem efeitos benéficos, podendo atuar como anti-oxidante e anti-carcinogênico. Portanto, há um interesse na avaliação e na manipulação dos teores de fitato em grãos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar onze genótipos de feijoeiro quanto ao teor de fitato, P, fósforo inorgânico e proteína nos grãos e examinar se a absorção e distribuição do P em diferentes partes da planta ou o teor de proteína no grão poderiam explicar as diferenças encontradas. As plantas foram conduzidas em casa de vegetação, em baldes contendo uma mistura de solo e substrato comercial que recebeu 7,4 e 37 mg P.dm-3. Encontrou-se variabilidade genética quanto ao teor de fitato nos grãos. Na dose mais alta de P a variedade Una apresentou maior teor de fitato (1,48 %), correspondendo a 72 % do P do grão. A variedade com menor teor de fitato foi Paraiso com 0,70 %, correspondente a 47 % do P dos grãos. O P inorgânico contribuiu em 8 % do P em Paraiso. A correlação entre fitato e proteína foi alta (r = 0,73) apenas na dose mais alta de P. Com exceção do genótipo 4AP, esta variação não pôde ser explicada por diferenças na absorção e distribuíção do P na planta. No caso de Paraíso, infere-se que o menor teor de fitato foi devido as diferenças no metabolismo do P e no acúmulo de matéria seca nos grãos.

Phytic acid is the major storage form of phosphorus in seeds of legumes and cereals. Since phytate can form complexes with proteins and minerals, reducing the digestive availability of these nutrients, it is usually regarded as an antinutrient, although recent work indicates that it has important beneficial roles as an antioxidant and anticarcinogen. Therefore, there is an interest in the assessment and manipulation of phytate contents in important food grains such as beans. The objective of this work was to compare eleven dry bean genotypes with regard to grain contents of P, phytate, inorganic P and protein and to examine if differences between genotypes could be explained by differences in grain protein content or in uptake and partitioning of P. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in pots containing soil and commercial substrate amended with 7.4 and 37 mg P.dm-3. The experimental setup was a random, complete block design with five replications. Genetic variability in grain phytate contents was observed. At the higher dose of P fertilization, genotype Una presented the highest phytate content (1.48 %) and the highest fraction of P as phytate (72 %), whereas these features were lowest in Paraiso (0.70 % and 47 %, respectively). Inorganic P made up 8 % of total P in Paraiso. A correlation between phytate and protein contents among genotypes was significant (r = 0.73) only under the higher dose of P fertilization. With the exception of genotype 4AP, differences in phytate content could not be explained by differences in uptake and partitioning of P in the plant. In the case of Paraiso, it is inferred that the lower phytate contents were due to differences in the metabolism of P and dry matter accumulation in the grain.