ABSTRACT This study was conducted as a first step in exploiting endophytic bacteria to improve yam production. Little information is available on population densities and genetic diversity of endophytic bacteria in yam cultivated in tropical regions. This study demonstrated that higher densities of total endophytic bacteria and Bacillus occur in the interior of roots and decrease as the sampled plant organ departs from soil. Bacillus represents approximately 1% of the total bacterial endophytic population. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses performed with 88 randomly-selected Bacillus isolates resulted in 28 groups, and sequence analyses of the 16S region of the ribosomal DNA of 24 isolates representing all major RAPD groups revealed that they could be clustered in 2 clades: Bacillus cereus and B. pumilus. While B. cereus was able to colonize the entire plant, B. pumilus remained confined to the rhizophores. Further research should concentrate on the application of these isolates in biotechnological processes, such as biocontrol and yam growth promotion.

The production of sisal in Bahia, Brazil, has been declining due to the occurrence of a disease know as bole rot. Aspergillus niger was regarded as the only causal agent. In this study A. brasiliensis and A. tubingensis, in addition to Aspergillus niger, identified on the basis of morphological and molecular analyses, were shown to cause bole rot of sisal. Their pathogenicity was confirmed but their significance for the epidemiology of the disease in the field remains unclear.

Caries is a global public health problem, whose control requires the introduction of low-cost treatments, such as strong prevention strategies, minimally invasive techniques and chemical prevention agents. Nature plays an important role as a source of new antibacterial substances that can be used in the prevention of caries, and Brazil is the richest country in terms of biodiversity. Objective: In this study, the disk diffusion method (DDM) was used to screen over 2,000 Brazilian Amazon plant extracts against Streptococcus mutans. Material and Methods: Seventeen active plant extracts were identified and fractionated. Extracts and their fractions, obtained by liquid-liquid partition, were tested in the DDM assay and in the microdilution broth assay (MBA) to determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The extracts were also subjected to antioxidant analysis by thin layer chromatography. Results: EB271, obtained from Casearia spruceana, showed significant activity against the bacterium in the DDM assay (20.67±0.52 mm), as did EB1129, obtained from Psychotria sp. (Rubiaceae) (15.04±2.29 mm). EB1493, obtained from Ipomoea alba, was the only extract to show strong activity against Streptococcus mutans (0.08 mg/mL<MIC<0.16 mg/mL; MBC=0.16 mg/mL) in the MBA. Conclusions: The active extracts, discovered in the Amazon rain forest, show potential as sources of new antibacterial agents for use as chemical coadjuvants in prevention strategies to treat caries.

A habilidade de isolados de Bacillus subtilis e Trichoderma spp. em controlar a mancha preta dos frutos cítricos (MPC) foi avaliada em pomares de laranjeira 'Natal'. O primeiro experimento foi conduzido durante a safra de 2001/2002, no qual foram testados quatro isolados de B. subtilis (ACB-AP3, ACB-69, ACB-72 e ACB-77) aplicados de forma isolada ou em mistura, em intervalos de 28 dias, comparando-se com o tratamento fungicida. Dois outros ensaios foram conduzidos durante a safra de 2002/2003, em que os mesmos quatro isolados de B. subtilis e dois isolados de Trichoderma spp. (ACB-14 e ACB-40) foram testados, sendo os isolados aplicados em intervalos de 28 dias no segundo experimento e em intervalos de 15 dias no terceiro experimento. No primeiro experimento, o tratamento com ACB-69 diferiu estatisticamente do tratamento-testemunha, porém não diferiu dos outros agentes de controle biológico ou da mistura dos isolados de Bacillus. No segundo experimento, os tratamentos com ACB-69 e ACB-AP3 resultaram em menores índices de doença em comparação com o tratamento-testemunha. Entretanto, este resultado não se repetiu no terceiro experimento, em que os isolados foram aplicados em intervalos de 15 dias. A severidade de doença foi alta em ambas as safras avaliadas, e o tratamento com fungicida foi o mais efetivo para o controle da doença.

The ability of isolates of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma spp. to control citrus black spot (CBS) was investigated in ´Natal´ sweet orange orchards. The first experiment was conducted during the 2001/2002 season and four isolates of B. subtilis (ACB-AP3, ACB-69, ACB-72 and ACB-77), applied every 28 days, alone or in combination were tested and compared with fungicide treatments. Two other experiments were carried out during the 2002/2003 season, where the same isolates of Bacillus and two isolates of Trichoderma (ACB-14 and ACB-40) were tested being applied every 28 days in the second experiment, and every 15 days in the third experiment. In the first experiment, the treatment with ACB-69 differed statistically from the control, but did not differ from other biological control agents or mixture of Bacillus isolates. In the second experiment, the treatments with ACB-69 and ACB-AP3 resulted in smaller disease index compared with the control treatment. However, this result was not repeated in the third experiment, where the isolates were applied every 15 days. Disease severity was high in both evaluated seasons and the fungicide treatment was the most effective for disease control.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de microrganismos de manguezais para controlar a podridão radicular causada por Pythium aphanidermatum e para promover o crescimento em pepino hidropônico (Cucumis sativus). Avaliaram-se 19 microrganismos quanto ao controle da doença em mini-hidroponia. Os microrganismos mais promissores para esse fim - Gordonia rubripertincta SO-3B-2 e a mistura dos isolados G. rubripertincta SO-3B-2, MB-P3A-49, MB-P3-C68 e SO-3L-3, de Pseudomonas stutzeri, e Bacillus cereus AVIC-3-6 - foram, posteriormente, testados quanto à promoção de crescimento do pepineiro, em casa de vegetação. Microrganismos de manguezais podem ter importância funcional no controle biológico da podridão radicular causada por P. aphanidermatum e na promoção do crescimento do pepineiro cultivado em hidroponia. Os microrganismos G. rubripertincta SO-3B-2 e P. stutzeri MB-P3A-49 são promissores na promoção do crescimento das plantas não infestadas com o patógeno.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the capacity of mangrove microorganisms to control root rot, caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, and to promote growth in hydroponic cucumbers. Nineteen microorganisms were evaluated for controlling the disease in small-scale hydroponic units. The promising microorganisms - Gordonia rubripertincta SO-3B-2, and the combination of strains (G. rubripertincta SO-3B-2, MB-P3A-49, MB-P3-C68 and SO-3L-3 of Pseudomonas stutzeri, and Bacillus cereus AVIC-3-6 were subsequently evaluated in hydroponic cucumbers, in the greenhouse. Mangrove microorganisms can have an important functional role in the biological control of root rot caused by P. aphanidermatum, and in the growth promotion of cucumber plants cultivated in hydroponic systems. Gordonia rubripertincta SO-3B-2 and P. stutzeri MB-P3A-49 are promising growth promoters for non-infected plants.

Podridões radiculares causadas por espécies de Pythium são um importante problema em cultivos hidropônicos. Sintomas de subdesenvolvimento são observados nas plantas parasitadas pelo patógeno, sendo muitas vezes não diagnosticados pelo produtor. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o controle biológico da podridão radicular causada por Pythium aphanidermatum e a promoção de crescimento por Pseudomonas chlororaphis 63-28 e Bacillus subtilis GB03, reconhecidos agentes de controle biológico de doenças de plantas. A inoculação das plantas com P. aphanidermatum ocasionou o subdesenvolvimento, sendo essa diminuição de 20%. A adição dos agentes de biocontrole na solução nutritiva teve um efeito positivo no aumento da massa (6% a 13%), no número de folhas (4% a 7%) e no teor de clorofila (3%) das plantas de alface. Entretanto, maiores estudos devem ser realizados para melhorar a capacidade de controle da doença e de promoção de crescimento pelos agentes de biocontrole estudados no cultivo de alface hidropônica.

Root rot caused by Pythium species is a major problem in hydroponically-grown crops. Symptoms of canopy stunting are noticed in plants colonized by the pathogen and many times they are not diagnosed by the grower. The aim of this work was to evaluate biological control and plant growth promotion by Pseudomonas chlororaphis 63-28 and Bacillus subtilis GB03, known biocontrol agents of plant diseases. Inoculation of plants with P. aphanidermatum decreased lettuce mass by 20%. The introduction of the biocontrol agents to the nutrient solution was beneficial for plant growth increasing the plant mass (6% to 13%), the number of leaves (4% to 7%) and the chlorophyll content (3%) of the lettuce plants. Further studies are needed, however, to improve the effectiveness of disease control and growth promotion by the biological agents in hydroponic lettuce.