ABSTRACT: High-quality seedlings are one of the key factors in achieving high yield and precocity of blueberries. The inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance the development of seedlings in the nursery, ensuring more vigorous seedlings in a shorter time. This study evaluated the effect of inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the development of ‘PowderBlue’blueberryseedlings. The treatments were arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, in which the first factor was the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Gigaspora rosea, Glomus clarum, G. rosea + G. clarum, and a control level without mycorrhizae, while the second factor consisted of usingindole-3-butyric acid(IBA) and a control level without IBA. Semi-hardwood cuttings were planted in pots containing sterilized soil and kept in a greenhouse for 660 days. The percentage of rooted cuttings, plant height, root system length, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities, SPAD index, mycorrhizal efficiency and dependence, number of spores, and soil basal respiration were evaluated. Plants inoculated with G. clarum without IBA and inoculated with G. rosea with IBA showed higher dry matter and SOD and POD enzyme activities, but the use of IBA had a negative effect on the fungus. The inoculation of blueberry cuttings with G. clarummay help seedlingdevelopment, thus improving biometric and biochemical parameters. Furthermore, the plant regulator IBAwas essential in establishing the symbiosis between blueberry and the AMF G. rosea. ABSTRACT Highquality High quality blueberries (AMF nursery time ‘PowderBlueblueberryseedlings. PowderBlueblueberryseedlings ‘PowderBlue blueberryseedlings. PowderBlue blueberryseedlings ‘PowderBlue’blueberryseedlings scheme G mycorrhizae usingindole3butyric usingindolebutyric usingindole 3 butyric acidIBA acid acid(IBA Semihardwood Semi hardwood 66 days height length mass (POD (SOD activities index dependence spores fungus seedlingdevelopment parameters Furthermore ‘PowderBlueblueberryseedlings 6

RESUMO: Um dos fatores primordiais para alcançar alta produtividade e precocidade de mirtileiros é o emprego de mudas de alta qualidade. A inoculação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) pode potencializar o desenvolvimento de plântulas no viveiro, garantindo mudas mais vigorosas e em menor espaço de tempo. O estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito da inoculação de fungos micorrízicosarbusculares no desenvolvimento de mudas de mirtileiro cv. Powderblue. Os tratamentos utilizados foram arranjados em um esquema fatorial 4 x 2, sendo o primeiro fator os diferentes fungos micorrízicos arbusculares G. rosea, G. clarum, G. rosea + G. clarum e um nível controle sem micorrizas, o segundo fator foi com uso de AIB e um nível controle sem AIB. Estacas semi-lenhosas foram plantadas em vasos contendo solo esterilizado, mantidos em casa de vegetação durante 660 dias. A porcentagem de estacas enraizadas, altura de plantas, comprimento de sistema radicular, e massa seca de parte aérea, sistema radicular e planta toda, atividade das enzimas peroxidase e superóxido dismutase, índice SPAD, eficiência e dependência micorrízica, número de esporos e respiração basal do solo foram avaliadas. Plantas inoculadas com G. clarum sem AIB e inoculadas com G. rosea com AIB apresentaram maior matéria seca e atividade das enzimas SOD e POD, em contrapartida, o uso de AIB teve efeito negativo sobre esse fungo. A inoculação de estacas de mirtilo com G. clarum pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento das mudas, melhorando assim, parâmetros biométricos e bioquímicos, além disso, o regulador vegetal AIB demonstra-se essencial no estabelecimento da simbiose entre o mirtileiro e o FMA G. rosea. RESUMO qualidade (FMA viveiro tempo cv Powderblue 2 G micorrizas semilenhosas semi lenhosas esterilizado 66 dias enraizadas plantas aérea toda dismutase SPAD micorrízica avaliadas POD contrapartida fungo assim bioquímicos disso demonstrase demonstra se 6

ABSTRACT No-tillage system (NTS) plays a prominent role in conservation agriculture, however, its benefits can be further improved by adopting complementary soil management and conservation practices, such as using autumnal cover crops, contour seeding, and terraces. This study aimed to evaluate how soil biological activity responds to soil management and conservation systems. The treatments consisted of three macroplots with an area of 11.000 m2 each, as follows: a) Non-Terraced catchment (NTC), cultivated in NTS similar to most farmers of the region, in which the agricultural operations are carried out in the direction of the slope and without terraces used; b) Best Management Practices (BMPs) were adopted in NTS with additional autumnal cultivation of cover crops, and also the direction of machine traffic was transverse to the slope direction; and c) Terraced catchment (TC), cultivated in NTS was associated to mechanical practices to erosion control, using wide base terrace on level. Soil microbial properties sampled in the 0.00-0.10 m layer were evaluated during 2019, 2020, and 2021, all shortly after the summer crop harvest. Natural inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), respirometry, metabolic coefficient, acid phosphatase activity, and organic carbon and nitrogen in the microbial biomass were assessed. Averages of each microbiological properties were compared through the confidence intervals (p<0.05). The results showed a greater potential for AMF inoculum in BMPs and TC systems. The NTC showed the highest values of respirometry and metabolic quotient, releasing 31.7 and 27.3 % more CO2 compared to BMPs and TC, respectively. The BMPs and TC were able to retain 13.8 and 16.5 % more carbon in the microbial biomass and 8.0 and 8.8 % more nitrogen in the biomass than NTC, respectively. Adopting soil management and conservation practices such as autumn cover crops, level seeding, and wide base terrace on level improved the soil microbial properties, with an increase in AMF inoculum potential, higher levels of acid phosphatase activity, and increment of carbon and nitrogen in microbial biomass. Notillage No tillage (NTS agriculture however crops seeding systems 11000 11 000 11.00 follows NonTerraced Non , (NTC) region used b (BMPs c (TC) control 0.000.10 000010 0.00 0.10 0 00 10 0.00-0.1 2019 2020 2021 harvest AMF, (AMF) coefficient assessed p<0.05. p005 p p<0.05 . 05 (p<0.05) quotient 317 31 7 31. 273 27 3 27. CO respectively 138 13 8 13. 165 16 5 16. 80 8. 88 1100 1 11.0 (NTC (TC 0.000.1 00001 0.0 010 0.1 0.00-0. 201 202 (AMF p00 p<0.0 (p<0.05 2 110 11. 0.000. 0000 0. 01 0.00-0 20 p0 p<0. (p<0.0 0.000 0.00- p<0 (p<0. p< (p<0 (p< (p

Abstract Thermophilic fungi constitute an ecologically well-defined group, commonly found in environments wherever decomposition of organic matter takes place, making them self-heating. The importance of thermophilic fungus in ecosystems contrasts with the incompleteness of our understanding of the group’s biogeography patterns, phylogenies and coevolution relationships. Actually, the lack of data about thermophilic fungi from the Brazil is a limiting factor that also contributes for this scenario. In order to reduce this gap of knowledge, we aimed to characterize thermophilic filamentous fungi in Araucaria Forest, Atlantic Forest biome. Species identification was achieved by using internal transcribed spacers (ITS) as molecular ribosomal markers. In total, 240 heat-tolerant fungal strains were isolated and identified as Thermothielavioides terrestris, Thielavia sp., Thermoascus crustaceus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizomucor miehei, Rhizomucor pusillus, and Rhizopus microsporus. All thermophilic strains exhibited optimal growth at 45 °C. T. crustaceus, T. miehei e R. pusillus were the dominant species, with the frequencies of occurrence of 35.00%, 28.33% and 23.33%, respectively. Our data reveals the apparent diversity of the Neotropical realm and may serve as reference to future studies that will try to elucidate important aspects of group.

RESUMO: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a resposta de plantas de trigo diante da aplicação de possíveis compostos elicitores perante o patógeno Bipolaris sorokiniana. Tal resposta foi examinada por meio da quantificação de enzimas antioxidantes, malondialdeído e flavonoides, da análise da severidade da doença mancha marrom e da produtividade na cultura do trigo, em casa de vegetação e em campo. Os tratamentos consistiram em suspensões de fungos endofíticos Aspergillus japonicus e Trichoderma tomentosum, ácido salicílico, acibenzolar-S-metil e fungicida. Nos ensaios em campo, em 2015 e 2016, o desenvolvimento da doença foi menor e a produtividade foi superior em todos os tratamentos, com destaque para o fungicida. No entanto, as suspensões de fungos endofíticos demonstraram potencial como promotores de crescimento, redutores da severidade da doença e ativadores de resposta antioxidante protetora, pois promoveram o aumento significativo das enzimas superóxido dismutase e catalase, das glutationas e flavonoides.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this research was to evaluate the response of wheat plants to the application of possible elicitor compounds against Bipolaris sorokiniana pathogen. This response was measured through the quantification of antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde and flavonoids, evaluation of the severity of brown spot disease and productivity in wheat, greenhouse and field crops. The treatments consisted of suspensions of endophytic fungi Aspergillus japonicus and Trichoderma tomentosum, salicylic acid, acibenzolar-S-methyl and fungicide. In the field trials, in 2015 and 2016, the development of the disease was lower and productivity was higher in all treatments, with emphasis on the fungicide. However, endophytic fungi suspensions demonstrated potential as growth promoters, disease severity reducers and protective antioxidant response activators, as they promoted significant increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and flavonoid enzymes.

Pasture degradation is a concern, especially in susceptible sandy soils for which strategies to recover them must be developed. Microbiological and biochemical soil health indicators are useful in the guindace of soil management practices and sustainable soil use. We assessed the success of threePanicum maximum Jacq. cultivars in the reclamation of a pasture in a sandy Typic Acrudox in the northwest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, based on soil health indicators. On a formerly degraded pasture withUrochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster, a trial with threeP. maximum (cv. Massai, Tanzânia, or Mombaça) was conducted. Lime and phosphate were applied at set-up, and mineral N and K as topdressing. A remnant of degraded pasture adjacent to the trial was used as control. Twenty-three chemical, physical, microbiological and biochemical attributes were assessed for the 0-10 cm topsoil. The procedures for reclamation improved most of the indicators of soil health in relation to the degraded pasture, such as soil P, mineral N, microbial biomass C, ammonification rate, dehydrogenase activity and acid phosphatase. CO2 evolution decreased, whereas microbial biomass C increased in the pasture under reclamation, resulting in a lower metabolic quotient (qCO2) that points to a decrease in metabolic stress of the microbial community. The reclamation of the pasture withP. maximum, especially cv. Mombaça, were evidenced by improvements in the microbiological and biochemical soil health indicators, showing a recovery of processes related to C, N and P cycling in the soil.

O uso sustentável do solo, mantendo ou aumentando sua qualidade, é um dos objetivos da diversificação na propriedade agrícola. Nesse aspecto, bioindicadores relacionados à ciclagem de C, N e P podem ser utilizados na avaliação do tipo de uso na qualidade do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar atributos químicos, microbiológicos e bioquímicos do solo, associados ao C, N e P, sob diferentes tipos de uso em uma propriedade agrícola com atividade diversificada no norte do Paraná. Foram avaliados sete tipos de uso do solo: fragmento nativo de Floresta Atlântica; cultivo de pupunha (Bactrys gasipaes); soqueira de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum) recém colhida, em reforma; cultivo de café (Coffea arabica) intercalado com espécies arbóreas; reflorestamento recente (1 ano) com espécies arbóreas nativas, em área anteriormente ocupada com culturas anuais; cultivos anuais em sistema de plantio direto na palha, centeio (Cecale cereale); e mata secundária, regenerada por abandono (há 20 anos) de área cultivada com abacate (Persea americana). Os solos das áreas sob cultivo de café, reflorestamento recente e mata secundária tiveram os maiores valores de carbono orgânico, mas a biomassa microbiana e atividades enzimáticas foram maiores nos solos sob mata nativa e mata secundária, que também apresentaram menor coeficiente metabólico, seguidos pela área de pupunha. O menor teor de argila dispersa em água foi encontrado no solo sob mata nativa, que diferiu das áreas de cana e de mata secundária. A cobertura vegetal e o uso do solo influenciaram no teor de C orgânico total e nas atividades microbiana e enzimática do solo; as áreas agrícolas com maior intensidade de uso do solo se evidenciaram mais impactantes aos indicadores avaliados. O cálculo de um índice médio de qualidade do solo indicou que a mata secundária mais se aproximou do fragmento de mata nativa, seguidos pelo cultivo de pupunha, cultivo de café, culturas anuais, reflorestamento recente e soqueira de cana.

Sustainable use of soil, maintaining or improving its quality, is one of the goals of diversification in farmlands. From this point of view, bioindicators associated with C, N and P cycling can be used in assessments of land-use effects on soil quality. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical, microbiological and biochemical properties of soil associated with C, N and P under different land uses in a farm property with diversified activity in northern Parana, Brazil. Seven areas under different land uses were assessed: fragment of native Atlantic Forest; growing of peach-palm (Bactrys gasipaes); sugarcane ratoon (Saccharum officinarum) recently harvested, under renewal; growing of coffee (Coffea arabica) intercropped with tree species; recent reforestation (1 year) with native tree species, previously under annual crops; annual crops under no-tillage, rye (Cecale cereale); secondary forest, regenerated after abandonment (for 20 years) of an avocado (Persea americana) orchard. The soil under coffee, recent reforestation and secondary forest showed higher concentrations of organic carbon, but microbial biomass and enzyme activities were higher in soils under native forest and secondary forest, which also showed the lowest metabolic coefficient, followed by the peach-palm area. The lowest content of water-dispersible clay was found in the soil under native forest, differing from soils under sugarcane and secondary forest. Soil cover and soil use affected total organic C contents and soil enzyme and microbial activities, such that more intensive agricultural uses had deeper impacts on the indicators assessed. Calculation of the mean soil quality index showed that the secondary forest was closest to the fragment of native forest, followed by the peach-palm area, coffee-growing area, annual crop area, the area of recent reforestation and the sugarcane ratoon area.