ABSTRACT: Fungal endophytes of Brachiaria, a nonhost of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, may harbor species with antagonistic effects against this plant pathogen. The objective of this work was to investigate the diversity of endophytic fungi associated with different Brachiaria species and hybrids and evaluate their potential to inhibit the plant pathogen S. sclerotiorum. Stem samples from 39 Brachiaria spp. plants were collected in pasture fields and experimental areas of three states of Brazil resulting in 74 endophytes isolated. Twenty-eight species were identified by sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and 18S rDNA regions. Paraconiothyrium sp. was the most abundant endophyte, accounting for 24 % (14 isolates) of total, and it was isolated from B. ruziziensis, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, and B. brizantha. Phoma sorghina was the second most abundant taxon, followed by Sarocladium strictum, and Plenodomus sp. In vitro analyses showed that Paraconiothyrium sp., Sarocladium kiliense, Acremonium curvulum, Setophoma terrestris, Dissoconium sp., and Cladosporium flabelliforme exhibited antagonistic activity against S. sclerotiorum, with percentages of growth inhibition ranging from 25 to 60 (p < 0.05). Paraconiothyrium sp. BBXE1 (60 %), BBPB4.1 (60 %), BCMT4.1 (54 %), and S. kiliense (54 %) showed the highest values of Antagonism Percentages (AP). Therefore, fungi with inhibitory activity against S. sclerotiorum such as Paraconiothyrium sp. are naturally endophytic in Brachiaria grasses.

Abstract Pigments produced by submerged fermentation of three filamentous fungi isolated from Brazilian caves, namely Aspergillus keveii, Penicillium flavigenum, and Epicoccum nigrum, were submitted to spray drying in presence of the adjuvants maltodextrin, modified starch or gum arabic. Yellow fine powders with low moisture content and water activity, and high color retention (> 70%) were successfully generated with a high product recovery ratio (> 50%), independently of the adjuvant used. The dried products have enhanced stability and potential to might be used as a natural colorant in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract Endophytic fungi belonging to the genus Muscodor now transferred to Induratia are known producers of bioactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with many industrial applications. However, the members of this genus have rarely been reported to produce non-volatile metabolites including enzyme. Enzymes of the endophytes are degraders of the polysaccharides available in the host plants and the knowledge of enzyme production by Induratia spp. may provide insights into their possible biotechnological applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of amylase, cellulase, lipase, pectinase, phytase, protease, endo β-1,4 glucanase and exo β-1,4 glucanase enzymes produced by fungi of the species Induratia coffeana, Induratia yucatanensis and Induratia sp. isolated from organic coffee plants. All Induratia spp. were able to produce the extracellular enzymes cellulase, pectinase, protease, and phytase. Eight fungi were able to produce lipase and four produced amylase. The specific activity of endo β-1, 4 glucanase and exo β-1,4 glucanase enzymes were detected for 9 and 8 endophytic fungi, respectively. This work demonstrated for the first time, the array of enzymes produced by Induratia spp. isolated from Coffea arabica in organic systems in Brazil.

ABSTRACT It is know that many plants live in symbiosis with microorganisms that can be found on their interior, the endophytes. Environment and tissue type are modulating factors of this community, in which most of these microorganisms produce important antimicrobial molecules and they may be powerful biocontrol agents in agriculture. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the community of Endophytic fungi from Eremanthus erythropappus in anthropogenic and natural areas (with human interaction, natural habitat and planned planting) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, through cultivation-based approach and verify their antimicrobial activity against phytopathogenic fungal and pathogenic bacteria. The endophytic fungi isolated were identified by sequencing of the ITS region and subjected an in vitro antagonism test. The antagonisms that show antibiosis were submitted to tests on split plates to verify the volatile compound production. In the pairing testes, the endophytic fungi of the genera Cryptosporiopsis, Diaporthe, Xylaria, Paraconiothyrium and Camarosporium presented antibiosis against phytopathogenic fungi by releasing compounds in the medium. To our knowledge, this paper is the first report on the isolation of twelve genera fungi in E. erythropappus besides verifying their antagonist capacity, which opens the way for discovery of bioactive substances produced by endophytic fungi that inhibit pathogens.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from the forage grass P. maximum and evaluate their ability to inhibit the growth of plant pathogenic fungi. One sample from P. purpureum grass was also included. Surface disinfected stem fragments were used for endophytic fungal isolation. One hundred and twenty-six endophytic fungi were isolated, of which 118 were from P. maximum and eight from P. purpureum. Morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 18S (NS) sequence comparisons identified most isolated endophytic fungi as belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, with Sarocladium being the dominant genus. The isolates were subjected to in vitro antagonism tests against pathogenic fungi, and 31 endophytic fungi inhibited the growth of Bipolaris maydis, Penicillium expansum, and Sclerotinia minor. The results expand our knowledge of the diversity of endophytes associated with tropical grasses and suggest that they may represent new sources of antifungal metabolites for biocontrol and biotechnological purposes.

O processo de fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN), realizado por bactérias fixadoras de N2 simbióticas de leguminosas, comumente denominados α e β rizóbios, proporciona alta sustentabilidade aos ecossistemas. Seu manejo como uma biotecnologia é bem sucedido para aumentar a produtividade das culturas. Um exemplo notável desse sucesso é a inoculação da soja com estirpes de Bradyrhizobium.Os rizóbios produzem grande diversidade de estruturas químicas dos exopolissacarídeos (EPS). Embora o papel dos EPS seja relativamente bem estudado no processo de FBN, o seu potencial econômico e ambiental ainda não é explorado. Esses EPS são principalmente heteropolissacarídeos espécie-específicos, que podem variar de acordo com a composição dos açúcares, as suas ligações em uma única subunidade, o tamanho da unidade repetitiva e o grau de polimerização. Estudos mostram que os EPS produzidos por essas bactérias exercem importante papel no processo de invasão, formação do cordão de infecção, desenvolvimento do bacteroide e do nódulo e resposta de defesa da planta. Esses EPS também conferem proteção a essas bactérias quando submetidas a diversos estresses ambientais. Em geral, estirpes de rizóbios que produzem maior quantidade de EPS são mais tolerantes às condições adversas, quando comparadas com estirpes que produzem menor quantidade. Além disso, sabe-se que os EPS produzidos por microrganismos são amplamente utilizados em vários segmentos industriais. Esses compostos, também denominados biopolímeros, fornecem uma alternativa válida para a substituição das gomas comumente usadas na indústria de alimentos, por meio do desenvolvimento de produtos com propriedades praticamente idênticas ou com melhores características reológicas, que podem ser usados para novas aplicações. Os EPS microbianos também são capazes de aumentar a adesão de partículas do solo, favorecendo a estabilidade mecânica dos agregados, além de aumentarem os níveis de retenção de água e fluxo de ar nesse ambiente. Diante da importância dos EPS, na presente revisão discute-se o papel desses compostos no processo de fixação biológica de N2, na adaptação dos rizóbios a estresses ambientais, bem como no processo de agregação do solo. As possíveis aplicações desses biopolímeros na indústria também são discutidas.

The process of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), performed by symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria with legume species, commonly known as α and β rhizobia, provides high sustainability for the ecosystems. Its management as a biotechnology is well succeeded for improving crop yields. A remarkable example of this success is the inoculation of Brazilian soybeans with Bradyrhizobium strains. Rhizobia produce a wide diversity of chemical structures of exopolysaccharides (EPS). Although the role of EPS is relatively well studied in the process of BNF, their economic and environmental potential is not yet explored. These EPS are mostly species-specific heteropolysaccharides, which can vary according to the composition of sugars, their linkages in a single subunit, the repeating unit size and the degree of polymerization. Studies have showed that the EPS produced by rhizobia play an important role in the invasion process, infection threads formation, bacteroid and nodule development and plant defense response. These EPS also confer protection to these bacteria when exposed to environmental stresses. In general, strains of rhizobia that produce greater amounts of EPS are more tolerant to adverse conditions when compared with strains that produce less. Moreover, it is known that the EPS produced by microorganisms are widely used in various industrial activities. These compounds, also called biopolymers, provide a valid alternative for the commonly used in food industry through the development of products with identical properties or with better rheological characteristics, which can be used for new applications. The microbial EPS are also able to increase the adhesion of soil particles favoring the mechanical stability of aggregates, increasing levels of water retention and air flows in this environment. Due to the importance of EPS, in this review we discuss the role of these compounds in the process of BNF, in the adaptation of rhizobia to environmental stresses and in the process of soil aggregation. The possible applications of these biopolymers in industry are also discussed.

Penicillium expansum e P. griseoroseum foram caracterizados morfológica e molecularmente. Variações na morfologia das colônias e coloração dos conídeos foram observadas entre os isolados. A caracterização molecular foi baseada em marcadores RAPD, sequenciamento da região do espaçador interno transcrito do DNA ribossomal e "fingerprinting" telomérico. Foi usado um total de 78 primers RAPD, sendo que 8 apresentaram 54% de fragmentos de DNA polimórficos. Os produtos da amplificação da região ITS de P. expansum e P. griseoroseum foram de 600 e 594 pb, respectivamente. Não foi detectada nenhuma variação na seqüência de nucleotídeos dessa região, comparando-se P. expansum e P. griseoroseum, exceto em relação aos seis nucleotídeos iniciais adicionais. Observou-se a ocorrência de polimorfismo na organização da região subtelomérica no genoma destes fungos e estimou-se um número mínimo de três cromossomos para estas espécies. Este é o primeiro trabalho que descreve a existência de polimorfismo na organização da região subtelomérica do genoma de espécies de fungos pertencentes ao gênero Penicillium, altamente homogêneo, indicando uma possível utilização da abordagem empregada neste estudo para pesquisas filogenéticas futuras.

Two species from the genus Penicillium, Penicillium expansum and P. griseoroseum (Brasilian isolates) were characterized morphologic and molecularlly. Morphological variability was detected among isolates in regard to colony morphology and to conidia coloration. The molecular characterization was based on the RAPD markers, telomeric fingerprinting and ITS sequencing. A total of 78 RAPD primers were used and 8 presented differences in band patterns with 54% of the amplified polymorphic fragments. The monomorphic fragments of 600 bp (P. expansum) and 594 bp (P. griseoroseum) were amplified. The only internal transcribed spacer region variation detected between the two species was the additional six initial nucleotides. The analysis by telomeric fingerprinting showed polymorphism between both species and the chromosome minimal numbers estimated were three. The polymorphism observed in the organization of the subtelomeric region in the genome of two Penicillium species within the high homogeneous Penicillium subgenus is for the first time reported and perhaps can be employed in future phylogenetic studies.