Abstract: Sugarcane is an important Brazilian commodity, being usually cultivated in soils with low natural fertility. This study aimed to isolate diazotrophic endophytes from sugarcane tissues and evaluate the morphological and physiological characteristics of their colonies as well as their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits in select diazotrophic endophytic bacteria. Fifty-six bacterial isolates were identified in the sugarcane tissues, and these isolates presented distinct morphological and physiological traits. A total of thirty-five bacterial isolates were biochemically evaluated. Overall, Bacillus was the dominant genus. Isolates of Methylobacterium spp. and Brevibacillus agri were present only in leaves, while Herbaspirillum seropedicae occurred only in stems. Except to IPA-CF45A, all isolates were nitrogenase positive. All endophytes exhibit production of indol 3-acetic acid. Over 50% of endophytes solubilize phosphate, release N-acyl homoserine lactones, and present the activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, catalase, lipase and protease. The network analysis showed that isolates belonged to Burkholderia, Herbaspirillum, and Methylobacterium interact with Bacillus. Bacterial endophytes exhibited distinct morphological, physiological, and PGP traits that are useful for sustainable agriculture, highlighting the isolates IPA-CC33, IPA-CF65, IPA-CC9 and IPA-CF27. Further studies on the effects of these diazotrophic endophytes and their potential for providing microbial inoculants for improving sugarcane fields will provide valuable information to maintain the sustainability and environment quality.

RESUMO Os efeitos deletérios do estresse salino podem ser mitigados pelo uso de microrganismos benéficos. O objetivo foi avaliar se a inoculação com Bradyrhizobium e Trichoderma asperelloides alivia o estresse salino em feijão-caupi. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação utilizando vasos preenchidos com solo estéril. As sementes foram semeadas e inoculadas com Bradyrhizobium ou coinoculadas com Bradyrhizobium e T. asperelloides. Aos 15 dias após a semeadura (DAS), a solução nutritiva isenta de nitrogênio foi suplementada com 50 ou 100 mmol L-1 de cloreto de sódio (NaCl) para induzir a salinidade. Plantas não inoculadas e irrigadas com solução sem NaCl foram utilizadas como controle absoluto. Aos 35 DAS, as plantas foram coletadas e os nódulos excisados para uso nas determinações. O controle absoluto não apresentou nódulos radiculares. O estresse salino diminuiu a biomassa e o crescimento das plantas, especialmente no feijão-caupi inoculado com Bradyrhizobium. O diâmetro do caule aumentou no feijão-caupi coinoculado com Bradyrhizobium e T. asperelloides, principalmente nas plantas submetidas a estresse salino com 100 mmol L-1 de NaCl. O feijão-caupi coinoculado com Bradyrhizobium e T. asperelloides manteve um conteúdo mais alto de amônia livre e compostos orgânicos em seus nódulos, mesmo sob estresse salino. Nós concluímos que a coinoculação do feijão-caupi com Bradyrhizobium e T. asperelloides induz um aumento na concentração de solutos orgânicos nos nódulos radiculares, especialmente quando o feijão-caupi foi cultivado sob salinidade. Portanto, o uso da coinoculação com T. asperelloides alivia os efeitos negativos do estresse salino em feijão-caupi.

ABSTRACT The deleterious effects of salt stress can be mitigated by the use of beneficial microorganisms. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether coinoculation with Bradyrhizobium and Trichoderma asperelloides alleviates salt stress in cowpea. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using pots filled with sterile soil. Seeds were sown and inoculated with Bradyrhizobium or coinoculated with Bradyrhizobium and T. asperelloides. At 15 days after sowing (DAS), the nitrogen-free nutritive solution was supplemented with 50 or 100 mmol L-1 sodium chloride (NaCl) to induce salinity. Uninoculated plants and irrigated with solution without NaCl were used as absolute control. At 35 DAS, plants were collected, and nodules were excised for use in the determinations. The absolute controls did not show root nodules. Salt stress decreased plant biomass and growth, especially in cowpea inoculated with Bradyrhizobium. The stem diameter increased in cowpea coinoculated with Bradyrhizobium and T. asperelloides, mainly in plants subjected to salt stress at 100 mmol L-1 NaCl. Cowpea coinoculated with Bradyrhizobium and T. asperelloides maintained a higher content of free ammonia and organic compounds in its nodules even under salt stress. We concluded that the coinoculation of cowpea with Bradyrhizobium and T. asperelloides induces an increase in the concentration of organic solutes in the root nodules, especially when cowpeas are cultivated under salinity. Therefore, the use of coinoculation with Bradyrhizobium and T. asperelloides alleviates the negative effects of salt stress in cowpea.

ABSTRACT To mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria along with diazotrophic bacteria has been increasing. The objectives of this study were to investigate the key enzymes related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism in the biological nitrogen fixation process and to elucidate the activities of these enzymes by the synergistic interaction between Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria in the absence and presence of salt stress. Cowpea plants were cultivated under axenic conditions, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Actinomadura sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Paenibacillus graminis, and Bradyrhizobium sp. and Streptomycessp.; the plants were also maintained in the absence (control) and presence of salt stress (50 mmolL-1 NaCl). Salinity reduced the amino acids, free ammonia, ureides, proteins and total nitrogen content in nodules and increased the levels of sucrose and soluble sugars. The co-inoculations responded differently to the activity of glutamine synthetase enzymes under salt stress, as well as glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase aminating, and acid invertase in the control and salt stress. Considering the development conditions of this experiment, co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp. in cowpea provided better symbiotic performance, mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress.

Abstract Soil salinity is an important abiotic stress worldwide, and salt-induced oxidative stress can have detrimental effects on the biological nitrogen fixation. We hypothesized that co-inoculation of cowpea plants with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria would minimize the deleterious effects of salt stress via the induction of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative protection. To test our hypothesis, cowpea seeds were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria and then submitted to salt stress. Afterward, the cowpea nodules were collected, and the levels of hydrogen peroxide; lipid peroxidation; total, reduced and oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione; and superoxide dismutase, catalase and phenol peroxidase activities were evaluated. The sodium and potassium ion concentrations were measured in shoot samples. Cowpea plants did not present significant differences in sodium and potassium levels when grown under non-saline conditions, but sodium content was strongly increased under salt stress conditions. Under non-saline and salt stress conditions, plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Actinomadura or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Paenibacillus graminis showed lower hydrogen peroxide content in their nodules, whereas lipid peroxidation was increased by 31% in plants that were subjected to salt stress. Furthermore, cowpea nodules co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria and exposed to salt stress displayed significant alterations in the total, reduced and oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria induced increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and phenol peroxidase activities in the nodules of cowpea plants exposed to salt stress. The catalase activity in plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Streptomyces was 55% greater than in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium alone, and this value was remarkably greater than that in the other treatments. These results reinforce the beneficial effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria on the antioxidant system that detoxifies reactive oxygen species. We concluded that the combination of Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria induces positive responses for coping with salt-induced oxidative stress in cowpea nodules, mainly in plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and P. graminis or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus.

RESUMO. A acumulação de cromo (Cr) no solo e nas plantas tem sido relatada após sucessivas aplicações de lodo de curtume, o que é motivo de preocupação tendo em vista que este elemento pode promover a contaminação ambiental e afetar a cadeia alimentar. Neste estudo, avaliou-se o crescimento e a acumulação de Cr no milho e caupi após sete anos de aplicações consecutivas de lodo de curtume compostado (LCC) em condições de campo. O experimento consistiu na aplicação de LCC em cinco doses: 0 (controle); 2,5; 5; 10 e 20 Mg ha-1 (base seca). O crescimento e o acúmulo de Cr no milho e no caupi foram avaliados aos 75 e 65 dias após a emergência das plantas, respectivamente. A aplicação de LCC aumentou a biomassa do milho e caupi. A acumulação de Cr foi semelhante para ambas as espécies, com maior acumulação relatada nas raízes. No entanto, a acumulação de Cr nos grãos diferiu entre as espécies: o caupi acumulou Cr, enquanto o milho não acumulou esse elemento nos grãos. Em conclusão, a aplicação de LCC proporcionou maior crescimento de plantas de milho e feijão-caupi, e ambas as espécies apresentaram respostas semelhantes à acumulação de Cr nas raízes e parte aérea.

ABSTRACT. Chromium (Cr) accumulation in soil and plants has been reported after successive applications of tannery sludge, which is a matter of concern because Cr can promote environmental contamination and affect the food chain. In this study, we evaluated the growth of and Cr accumulation in maize and cowpea after seven years of consecutive applications of composted tannery sludge (CTS) under field conditions. The experiment consisted of application of CTS at five levels: 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 Mg ha-1 (dry basis). The growth of and Cr accumulation in maize and cowpea were evaluated at 75 and 65 days after plant emergence, respectively. CTS application increased the shoot biomass of maize and cowpea. Accumulation of Cr was similar for both plant species, with higher accumulation in roots. However, Cr accumulation in grains differed as the CTS doses increased; cowpea accumulated more Cr while maize did not accumulate more Cr in grains with higher CTS doses. In conclusion, application of CTS led to higher growth of maize and cowpea plants, and both species exhibited similar Cr accumulation in roots and shoots.

A antracnose foliar é causada pelo fungo Colletotrichum sublineolum Hann. Kabát et Bub. (sin. C. graminicola (Ces.) G.W. Wils.) em plantas de sorgo podendo reduzir a produtividade de grãos e forragem, e o manejo adequado da nutrição mineral desta planta pode se apresentar como um mecanismo de controle sobre a antracnose. Dentre os minerais utilizados para o manejo de doenças, o silício destaca-se por reduzir a severidade das doenças em várias culturas. Diante do exposto, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a severidade da antracnose em diferentes genótipos de sorgo suplementados com doses crescentes de silício. Para tal, realizaram-se experimentos em condições de casa de vegetação e de campo onde os genótipos de sorgo DOW 1F305 e A9735R foram suplementados com doses crescentes de silício (0; 500; 1.000; 1.500; 2.000; e 4.000 kg ha-1) e avaliados quanto à severidade da antracnose. Avaliou-se a severidade da doença por meio de uma escala de notas e, em seguida, amostras foram coletadas para determinação da concentração de silício nas folhas. Após a análise dos resultados, concluiu-se que houve redução na severidade da antracnose em resposta a adubação com silício para ambos os genótipos avaliados. Apesar do genótipo de sorgo DOW 1F305 acumular menores teores de silício em suas folhas, este genótipo foi mais resistente ao ataque da antracnose foliar.

Anthracnose in the leaves of sorghum plants is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum sublineolum Hann. Kabát et Bub. (syn. C. graminicola (Ces.) GW Wils.), and is responsible for reducing the yield of grain and forage. The proper management of the mineral nutrition of the plant may be a mechanism for the control of anthracnose. Among the minerals used in disease management, silicon stands out for reducing the severity of the disease in various crops. Given the above, this study aimed to assess the severity of anthracnose in different sorghum genotypes when supplemented with increasing levels of silicon. To this end, experiments were carried out under both greenhouse and field conditions, where the sorghum genotypes DOW 1F305 and A9735R were supplemented with increasing levels of silicon (0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 4000 kg ha-1) and assessed for the severity of anthracnose. We evaluated the severity of the disease with a rating scale and then samples were collected for determination of the concentration of silicon in the leaves. After analyzing the results, it was concluded that there was a reduction in the severity of anthracnose in response to fertilization with silicon in both of the evaluated genotypes. Although genotype DOW 1F305 accumulated lower silicon levels in the leaves, it was more resistant to foliar anthracnose.

As doenças foliares, principalmente, helmintosporiose (Bipolaris spp.), antracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) e ferrugem (Puccinia spp.), podem ocasionar redução do rendimento da cultura do milho. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência e severidade de helmintosporiose, antracnose e ferrugem, bem como a produtividade de genótipos de milho, em resposta a doses crescentes de nitrogênio. Avaliou-se a severidade das doenças, utilizando-se escala de notas, em nove genótipos de milho (AG9040, AG7088, 30F35, 3F624, 1F583, 1F632, 1F557, 1F640 e ID219), submetidos a quatro doses de nitrogênio (67; 112; 157; e 202 kg ha-1), em duas safras (2009/2010 e 2010/2011). Para determinar a produtividade, utilizou-se a massa dos grãos coletados. Os graus de severidade da helmintosporiose, da antracnose e da ferrugem variaram em resposta às doses de nitrogênio e, entre os genótipos de milho avaliados durante as duas safras, entretanto, não houve relação clara entre as doses de nitrogênio aplicadas e a ocorrência das doenças nas duas safras. A ferrugem foi detectada apenas durante a safra I. Apesar da severidade das doenças foliares, elas, de modo geral, não afetaram significativamente a produtividade dos genótipos de milho avaliados. Desses, o genótipo de milho AG7088 pode ser considerado o mais produtivo e o mais resistente às doenças avaliadas.

Leaf diseases, mainly, helmintosporiosis (Bipolaris spp.), anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) and rust (Puccinia spp.), may cause reduction in maize yield. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and severity of helmintosporiosis, anthracnose and rust, as well as productivity of different genotypes of maize in response to increasing doses of nitrogen. Disease severity was evaluated using a score scale in nine maize genotypes (AG9040, AG7088, 30F35, 3F624, 1F583, 1F632, 1F557, 1F640 and ID219) subjected to four different nitrogen levels (67; 112; 157; and 202 kg ha-1) in two cropping years (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). To determine the productivity, it was used the weight of collected grains. It was observe that the severity of helmintosporiosis, anthracnose and rust varied in response to nitrogen levels and between the genotypes evaluated during two cropping years, although there was no clear relationship between the nitrogen levels applied and disease incidence in two cropping years. Rust was detect only during the cropping year I. Although the severity of foliar diseases, in general, these did not significantly affect the productivity of the maize genotypes evaluated. Of the evaluated genotypes, genotype AG7088 can be consider the most productive and the most resistant to the diseases evaluated.

Estudou-se o efeito da aplicação exógena de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) na aclimatação ao estresse salino com base nas alterações fotossintéticas, indicadores de estresse oxidativo e atividade de enzimas antioxidativas em folhas de plantas de arroz. Utilizaram-se duas diferentes concentrações de H2O2 (1 e 10 μM) para o pré-tratamento, concentrações essas aplicadas na solução nutritiva dois dias antes da indução do estresse salino (100 μM de NaCl). A limitação fotossintética e estomática resultante da exposição ao NaCl foi amenizada quando as plantas foram pré-tratadas com 1 μM de H2O2. Plantas expostas ao pré-tratamento com H2O2 e expostas ao NaCl apresentaram dano de membrana menor quando comparadas com as plantas submetidas ao NaCl isoladamente. O conteúdo de TBARS e H2O2 foi reduzido sensivelmente nas plantas pré-tratadas com 1 μM de H2O2 e expostas ao NaCl em relação às que não foram pré-tratadas. O sistema antioxidativo enzimático nas plantas expostas ao NaCl foi induzido principalmente quando ocorreu o pré-tratamento com 1 μM de H2O2. Os dados sugerem que exposição prévia ao H2O2, pode resultar numa aclimatação mais efetiva às condições de estresse salino.

The effect of exogenous application of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the acclimation to salt stress was studied on the basis of photosynthetic changes, indicators of oxidative stress and activity of antioxidant enzymes in leaves of rice plants. Two different concentrations of the H2O2 (1 and 10 μM) were used for the pre-treatment, these concentrations were applied in the nutrient solution two days before the induction of salt stress (100 μM NaCl). The photosynthetic and stomatal limitations after exposure to NaCl were alleviated when the plants were pretreated with 1 μM H2O2. Plants pretreated with H2O2 and submitted to salt stress showed membrane damage lower in compared to plants exposed to NaCl alone. TBARS and H2O2 content was reduced appreciable in plants pretreated with 1 μM H2O2 and exposed to NaCl in relation to not pretreated. The enzymatic antioxidative system in plants exposed to NaCl was mainly induced when there was the 1 μM H2O2 pretreatment. Data suggest that an anticipated exposure to H2O2 may result in more effective acclimation to salt stress.