ABSTRACT: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are very important to plant nutrition, mostly in terms of acquisition of P and micronutrients. While Acacia mangium is closely associated with AMF throughout the whole cycle, Eucalyptus grandis presents this symbiosis primarily at the seedling stage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of AMF in these two tree species in both pure and mixed plantations during the first 20 months after planting. We evaluated the abundance, richness and diversity of AMF spores, the rate of AMF mycorrhizal root colonization, enzymatic activity and soil and litter C, N and P. There was an increase in AMF root colonization of E. grandis when intercropped with A. mangium as well as an increase in the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the presence of leguminous trees. AMF colonization and phosphatase activities were both involved in improvements in P cycling and P nutrition in soil. In addition, P cycling was favored in the intercropped plantation, which showed negative correlation with litter C/N and C/P ratios and positive correlation with soil acid phosphatase activity and soil N and P concentrations. Intercropping A. mangium and E. grandis maximized AMF root colonization of E. grandis and phosphatase activity in the soil, both of which accelerate P cycling and forest performance.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o comportamento de plantas de Pterogyne nitens Tull. sob diferentes níveis de restrição luminosa durante seu desenvolvimento inicial. O estudo foi conduzido no período de março a junho de 2008, no campo agropecuário da Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia - UESB, em Vitória da Conquista, BA. Sete experimentos foram definidos por níveis de 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% e 70% de restrição luminosa e plantas mantidas a pleno sol. Cada um dos experimentos foi organizado em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições e parcelas constituídas por 12 plantas. Durante o período de 15 a 75 dias após a emergência das plântulas, em intervalos de 15 dias, foram avaliadas as características morfológicas e quantitativas de crescimento e o índice de qualidade Dickson (IQD). Os gradientes de restrição de luz induziram a alterações morfológicas como elevação da altura e aumento da área foliar individual e total das plantas. Reduções de massa do sistema radicular ocorreram em detrimento de tais modificações. Invariavelmente, os maiores índices de IQD foram verificados para as plantas mantidas sob 36,5% de restrição luminosa.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial development and quality of seedlings Pterogyne nitens Tull., produced under different luminosity levels. The experiment was conducted from March to June 2008, in the agricultural field at the State University of Southwestern Bahia state - UESB, in Vitoria da Conquista, BA state. Seven experiments were defined for levels of 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% of light restriction and plants kept in full sun. For each experiment was followed the completely randomized design with five replications and each experimental unit was composed for12 plants. In a period from 15 to 75 days after the plant emergence, at intervals of 15 days, the morphological and quantitative characteristics of growth and quality index of Dickson (IQD) were evaluated. The constraint of light gradients induced morphological changes such as raising the height and increased individual and total leaf area of plants. Reductions in root system mass occurred at the expense of such modifications. Invariably, the highest rates were observed for the IQD plants lied under 36.5% light restriction.

O trabalho foi realizado em cafeeiros cultivados a pleno sol e consorciado com grevíleas em Vitória da Conquista (BA), em duas estações: seca e chuvosa, com objetivo de verificar a influência da arborização dos cafezais e da disponibilidade hídrica sobre a densidade de Fungos Micorrízicos Arbusculares (FMA) e ainda relacionar tais fatores com aspectos fisiológicos do cafeeiro. O experimento foi realizado em campos de observação com dois tratamentos e seis repetições, sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste t (p<0,05), relacionando os sistemas e as estações. Verificou-se maior número de esporos em época seca. A taxa de colonização radicular de FMA foi maior no cultivo consorciado, não diferindo em função da estação. O manejo dos cafeeiros sob sombra e a época seca contribuíram para maior teor de clorofila nas folhas. Maior valor absoluto do potencial hídrico foliar foi verificado quando avaliado na época chuvosa.

The work was performed aiming to check the influence of the agroforestry system and water availability on the density of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), and to correlate these factors with physiological aspects of coffee. This study was conducted in a full sun coffee field, where coffee plants were associated with grevilea during dry and rainy seasons. The experiment had two treatments and six replicates, and the resulting averages were compared by a t test at 5% of probability, comparing the systems and seasons. There was a rise in spore number in the dry season. Also the rate of root colonization of AMF was higher in intercropped cultivation but it did not differ between seasons. The shading of coffee plants in dry season promoted a raise of leaf Spad index. In the rainy season the leaf water potential had higher absolute value.