ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in plant community productivity and structure, and so studying the factors that affect the diversity and structure of this fungal community is important for understanding their ecology in tropical forests. We investigated AMF spore communities and root colonization under three forest phytophysiognomies (Restinga Forest, REF; Lowland Ombrophilous Dense Forest, LLF; and Montane Ombrophilous Dense Forest, MTF). Spore abundance was lowest in LLF and highest in REF, with no statistical differences relative to MTF. Spore diversity indices and root colonization rates were not statistically different among the phytophysiognomies. However, principal components analysis revealed that AMF community structure differed according to forest phytophysiognomy. Hierarchical partitioning analysis indicated that most of the AMF community variables were better explained by phytophysiognomy than by chemical and physical attributes of the soil. In addition to the plant community, clay content, pH, Boron, P, S and CEC best explained some of the AMF community variables. Thus, we conclude that while several factors determine AMF community structure in the Atlantic Forest, phytophysiognomy is the most significant.

A queima da cana-de-açúcar previamente à colheita é amplamente utilizada no Brasil. Entretanto, em razão das restrições ambientais, a colheita sem queima vem ganhando espaço. Consequentemente, espera-se que o acúmulo de resíduos da cultura na superfície do solo altere a comunidade microbiana, iniciando mudanças na diversidade metabólica do solo desde a primeira colheita. Uma vez que os atributos biológicos respondem rapidamente e podem ser úteis para o monitoramento de mudanças ambientais, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as mudanças iniciais na diversidade metabólica do solo e na estrutura da comunidade bacteriana com a eliminação da queima, quando comparada ao manejo com queima prévia à colheita da cana-de-açúcar. Amostras de solo foram coletadas sob as variedades de cana-de-açúcar SP813250, SP801842 e RB72454, colhidas sem a queima e com queima prévia. O carbono da biomassa microbiana (MBC), os perfis de utilização de substratos de C, a estrutura da comunidade bacteriana com base nos perfis de amplicos do gene 16S rRNA e as propriedades químicas do solo foram determinados. O MBC não se diferenciou entre os tratamentos. A utilização de substratos de C e a diversidade metabólica foram menores no solo sem queima, exceto para o índice de equitabilidade de uso dos substratos. As amostras de solo sob a variedade SP801842 apresentaram as maiores mudanças na utilização de substratos e na diversidade metabólica, mas não diferiram na estrutura da comunidade bacteriana, independentemente do sistema de manejo de colheita. Em conclusão, a análise conjunta de dados químicos e microbiológicos do solo permite detectar alterações iniciais na capacidade e diversidade metabólica microbiana, com menores valores no manejo sem queima. Entretanto, após a primeira colheita, não houve mudanças na estrutura da comunidade bacteriana do solo detectada por PCR-DGGE sob a variedade SP801842. Portanto, o perfil metabólico é o indicador mais sensível para mudanças iniciais na comunidade microbiana do solo, causadas pelo sistema de manejo de colheita.

Preharvest burning is widely used in Brazil for sugarcane cropping. However, due to environmental restrictions, harvest without burning is becoming the predominant option. Consequently, changes in the microbial community are expected from crop residue accumulation on the soil surface, as well as alterations in soil metabolic diversity as of the first harvest. Because biological properties respond quickly and can be used to monitor environmental changes, we evaluated soil metabolic diversity and bacterial community structure after the first harvest under sugarcane management without burning compared to management with preharvest burning. Soil samples were collected under three sugarcane varieties (SP813250, SP801842 and RB72454) and two harvest management systems (without and with preharvest burning). Microbial biomass C (MBC), carbon (C) substrate utilization profiles, bacterial community structure (based on profiles of 16S rRNA gene amplicons), and soil chemical properties were determined. MBC was not different among the treatments. C-substrate utilization and metabolic diversity were lower in soil without burning, except for the evenness index of C-substrate utilization. Soil samples under the variety SP801842 showed the greatest changes in substrate utilization and metabolic diversity, but showed no differences in bacterial community structure, regardless of the harvest management system. In conclusion, combined analysis of soil chemical and microbiological data can detect early changes in microbial metabolic capacity and diversity, with lower values in management without burning. However, after the first harvest, there were no changes in the soil bacterial community structure detected by PCR-DGGE under the sugarcane variety SP801842. Therefore, the metabolic profile is a more sensitive indicator of early changes in the soil microbial community caused by the harvest management system.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is grown on over 8 million ha in Brazil and is used to produce ethanol and sugar. Some sugarcane fields are burned to facilitate harvesting, which can affect the soil microbial community. However, whether sugarcane pre-harvest burning affects the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and symbioses development is not known. In this study, we investigated the early impacts of harvest management on AMF spore communities and root colonization in three sugarcane varieties, under two harvest management systems (no-burning and pre-harvest burning). Soil and root samples were collected in the field after the first harvest of sugarcane varieties SP813250, SP801842, and RB72454, and AMF species were identified based on spore morphology. Diversity indices were determined based on spore populations and root colonization determined as an indicator of symbioses development. Based on the diversity indices, spore number and species occurrence in soil, no significant differences were observed among the AMF communities, regardless of harvest management type, sugarcane variety or interactions between harvest management type and sugarcane variety. However, mycorrhiza development was stimulated in sugarcane under the no-burning management system. Our data suggest that the sugarcane harvest management system may cause early changes in arbuscular mycorrhiza development.

As micorrizas arbusculares (MAs) são associações simbióticas mutualistas entre fungos do filo Glomeromycota e a maioria das plantas terrestres. A formação e o funcionamento das MAs depende de um complexo processo de troca de sinais, que resulta em mudanças no metabolismo dos simbiontes e na diferenciação de uma interface simbiótica no interior das células das raízes. Os mecanismos que regulam a formação das MAs são pouco conhecidos, mas sabe-se que a concentração de fosfato (P) na planta é um fator determinante para o desenvolvimento da simbiose. A disponibilidade de P na planta pode afetar o balanço de açúcares e de fitormônios (FHs), além da expressão de genes de defesa vegetal. Com o advento da genômica e proteômica, vários genes essenciais para o desenvolvimento das MAs já foram identificados e seus mecanismos de regulação estão sendo estudados. Até o presente, sabe-se que as plantas secretam substâncias que estimulam a germinação de esporos e o crescimento de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs). Há evidências também de que os FMAs sintetizam moléculas sinalizadoras, que são reconhecidas pelas plantas hospedeiras. Pelo menos três genes são essenciais para o reconhecimento dessa molécula e a transdução do sinal molecular. Discutem-se os papéis desses genes e os possíveis mecanismos que regulam sua expressão, bem como os papéis dos FHs na regulação de MAs são discutidos.

Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are mutualistic symbiotic associations between fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota and most terrestrial plants. The formation and functioning of AM depend on a complex signal exchange process, which ultimately results in shifts in the metabolism of the symbionts and differentiation of a symbiotic interface in cortical root cells. The mechanisms regulating AM development are not well understood, but it is known that phosphate (P) concentration in plants plays a key role in this process. Plant P concentration may affect the balance of sugars and phytohormones (PH), as well as the expression of plant defense-related genes. With the advent of genomics and proteomics, several genes essential for the development of AM have been identified and their regulation mechanisms are being elucidated. Hitherto, it is known that plants secrete several compounds that stimulate spore germination and the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). There is also evidence that AMF synthesize molecules that are recognized by the host plants. At least three genes are essential for the recognition of this molecule and the transduction of the molecular signal. The roles of these genes and the possible mechanisms regulating their expression, as well as the role of PH in controlling AM development are discussed in this review.