ABSTRACT Two new Penicillium species are reported from soil of an agroforestry system and an Atlantic Rainforest fragment in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Using a polyphasic approach, combining partial β-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) gene sequences and morphological characters, Penicillium gercinae sp. nov. (section Ramigena, series Georgiensia), and Penicillium stangiae sp. nov. (section Lanata-Divaricata, series Dalearum) are described. Descriptions based on morphological features are provided. Penicillium gercinae is phylogenetically closely related to P. georgiense; however, P. gercinae does not grow on Czapek yeast extract (CYA) and has monoverticillate and biverticillate conidiophores. Penicillium stangiae is phylogenetically closely related to P. penarojense and P. vanderhammenii. As diagnostic features, P. stangiae had slower growth on CYA (28-30 mm in 7 days) and on DG18 (6-7 mm in 7 days) and lacked the production of acid on creatine agar. This research contributes to the expansion of knowledge on the taxonomy and diversity of Penicillium species in Brazil.

RESUMO Austropuccinia psidii é o agente etiológico de uma das principais doenças do jambeiro-do-pará: a ferrugem-amarela. Em uma ocorrência dessa doença foi constatada a ação de um fungo hiperparasito sobre uredossoro de A. psidii. A partir de folhas lesionadas, dois isolados de Fusarium foram caracterizados por análise morfológica e molecular. Os resultados revelaram que esses organismos pertencem a dois complexos de espécies: Fusarium fujikuroi (FFSC) e Fusarium solani (FSSC). A ocorrência desses fungos micoparasitas é uma forma de controle biológico natural para esta ferrugem e o seu estudo contribuirá para o manejo da ferrugem amarela.

ABSTRACT Austropuccinia psidii is the etiologic agent of one of the major diseases affecting “jambeiro-do-pará”: yellow rust. During the incidence of yellow rust, the action of a hyperparasitc fungus on uredosore of A. psidii was observed. From injured leaves, two Fusarium isolates were characterized based on morphological and molecular analysis. Results evidenced that these organisms belong to two species complexes: Fusarium fujikuroi (FFSC) and Fusarium solani (FSSC). Occurrence of these mycoparasite fungi is a form of natural biological control for this rust and the study of these fungi will contribute to the management of yellow rust.

The entomopathogenic fungi of the genus Metarhizium have several subtilisin-like proteases that are involved in pathogenesis and these have been used to investigate genes that are differentially expressed in response to different growth conditions. The identification and characterization of these proteases can provide insight into how the fungus is capable of infecting a wide variety of insects and adapt to different substrates. In addition, the pr1A gene has been used for the genetic improvement of strains used in pest control. In this study we used quantitative RT-PCR to assess the relative expression levels of the pr1A gene in M. anisopliae and M. acridum during growth in different culture conditions and during infection of the sugar cane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius. We also carried out a pathogenicity test to assess the virulence of both species against D. saccharalis and correlated the results with the pattern of pr1A gene expression. This analysis revealed that, in both species, the pr1A gene was differentially expressed under the growth conditions studied and during the pathogenic process. M. anisopliae showed higher expression of pr1A in all conditions examined, when compared to M. acridum. Furthermore, M. anisopliae showed a greater potential to control D. saccharalis. Taken together, our results suggest that these species have developed different strategies to adapt to different growing conditions.

O controle microbiano consiste na utilização racional de patógenos, visando à manutenção da população de insetos em equilíbrio no ambiente. Metarhizium anisopliae é a espécie mais estudada e utilizada no controle biológico de insetos. A variabilidade genética dos fungos entomopatogênicos pode ser considerada uma das principais vantagens no controle microbiano de insetos e pode ser detectada por meio de marcadores moleculares, como ITS-RFLP, ISSR e ISSP. Esses marcadores são usados para a caracterização inter e intraespecífica de Metarhizium e outros fungos entomopatogênicos e poderão auxiliar na compreensão da diversidade genética e da estrutura das populações destes fungos. A persistência de M. anisopliae no solo e seu possível efeito na estrutura da comunidade microbiana deste solo são características importantes e pouco estudadas, que devem ser consideradas no processo de seleção de isolados para o controle biológico de insetos.

Microbial control of insects is based on the rational use of pathogens to maintain environmentally balanced pest population levels, and Metarhizium anisopliae has been the most studied and most utilized fungal species for that purpose. The natural genetic variability of entomopathogenic fungi is considered one of the principal advantages of microbial insect control. The inter- and intraspecific variability and the genetic diversity and population structures of Metarhizium and other entomopathogenic fungi have been examined using ITS-RFLP, ISSR, and ISSP molecular markers. The persistence of M. anisopliae in the soil and its possible effects on the structures of resident microbial communities must be considered when selecting isolates for biological insect control.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo isolar e identificar fungos de solo de sistemas agroflorestais e avaliar a atividade enzimática destes fungos. Estes foram isolados pela técnica de diluição sucessiva e avaliados quanto à capacidade de degradar amido, celulose e caseína. Foram identificadas 11 espécies de fungos anamorfos (Hyphomycetes) distribuídos em cinco gêneros: Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium e Penicillium. As espécies estudadas não apresentaram atividade amilolítica satisfatória. Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) De Vries e Penicillium chrysogenum Thom apresentaram maior índice de relação enzimática (IRE) para protease e celulase. Entre as espécies estudadas seis apresentaram maior Índice de Relação Enzimática (IRE) para celulase em comparação as demais enzimas.

This study aimed to isolate and identify fungi from soil of agroforestry systems and to evaluate the enzymatic activity of these fungi. These were isolated by successive dilution technique and evaluated for their ability to degrade starch, cellulose and caseine. Eleven species of anamorph fungi (Hyphomycetes) distributed in five genera were identified: Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium and Penicillium. The species studied did not show satisfactory amylolytic activity. Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) De Vries and Penicillium chrysogenum Thom had higher enzyme relation index (ERI) for protease and cellulase. Among the species studied six showed higher Relative Enzymatic Index (IRE) for cellulase in comparison to the other enzymes.

In order to assess the effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin isolates in controlling the sugarcane root spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), nine isolates obtained from a single geographical region were studied. 'Confirmed cumulative' and 'corrected cumulative' spittlebug mortality rates were measured for each of the isolates. Based on the confirmed mortality curve, the isolates URM5946, URM5951 and URM6033 were considered to be potentially the most effective in a biological control program for M. fimbriolata.

O Parque Natural Municipal Ilto Ferreira Coutinho, localizado em Tangará da Serra-MT, possui uma vegetação de transição entre Cerrado e Floresta Amazônica e apresenta três diferentes áreas denominadas: área de lazer, área alterada e reserva natural, conforme o seu estado de degradação e de utilização. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: estudar algumas propriedades físico-químicas e microbiológicas (bactérias e fungos) do solo; analisar a influência dos períodos seco e chuvoso nestas propriedades do solo e estimar os índices de diversidade, uniformidade e riqueza bacteriana do solo das áreas estudadas. As amostras de solo foram coletadas nos meses de agosto de 2005 e março de 2006 e as análises físico-químicas foram realizadas em um laboratório especializado. As análises de pH, umidade e contagem total de fungos e bactérias foram realizadas no Laboratório de Microbiologia da UNEMAT. A diversidade bacteriana foi calculada através do índice de Shannon-Wiener e a riqueza e uniformidade pelo índice de Pielou. Houveram diferenças nos valores da comunidade microbiana (fungos e actinomicetos), de pH, de matéria orgânica, de carbono orgânico e de umidade, entre as áreas e os períodos estudados. No período chuvoso, observamos a inibição do crescimento de actinomicetos provavelmente causado pela alta umidade. Os índices de diversidade, uniformidade e riqueza foram baixos, possivelmente devido à constante ação antrópica no parque.

The Ilto Ferreira Coutinho Municipal Nature Park in Tangará da Serra, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, has a transition vegetation of "Cerrado" to Amazonian forest and encompasses three different areas classified as: leisure area, altered area, and natural reserve area, according to their state of degradation and use. The objectives of this work were to study some of the physicochemical and microbiological (bacteria and fungi) properties of the soil, analyze the influence of the dry and rainy seasons on these soil properties, and estimate the indices of bacterial diversity, homogeneity and richness in the soil of these three areas. Soil samples were collected in August 2005 and March 2006 and were subjected to physicochemical analyses in a specialized laboratory. Analyses of pH, humidity and total fungi and bacterial counts were carried out at UNEMAT's Laboratory of Microbiology. Bacterial diversity was calculated based on the Shannon-Wiener index and bacterial richness and uniformity by the Pielou index. The microbial community (fungi and actinomycetes) and the values of pH, organic matter, organic carbon and humidity were found to differ between areas and the dry and rainy seasons. In the rainy season, the growth of actinomycetes was inhibited, probably due to the high humidity. Diversity, homogeneity and richness indices were low, probably due to the constant anthropic action in the park.