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Groundnut can obtain N from the N2 fixation in the symbiosis with rhizobia and inoculation with selected strains can improve grain yields. We report the results from four field experiments, aiming to verify if microbial inoculants may improve groundnut performance, through the effects of single inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. (SEMIA6144), of co-inoculation Arthrospira platensis IPR7059 or Synechocystis sp. IPR7061, and of the N fertilization with 100 kg ha− 1 of N on plant growth, nodulation, N accumulated in tissues, grain protein, and grain yield. There were no effects of inoculation treatments and N-fertilizer on shoot and root dry weights. In clayey soil, co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and cyanobacteria increased grain productivity by an average of 19% compared to the non-inoculated control. In this clayey soil with higher P content, regardless of whether co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and cyanobacteria or single inoculated, grain productivity was 16% higher on average compared to nitrogen fertilizer. In conclusion, it was clear that success of rhizobia inoculation in groundnut is dependent on the soil, probably due to P limitation, and weather conditions.

The aim of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis and mapping of existing scientific papers, focusing on microalgae cultivation coupled with biomass production and bioremediation of wastewater from cassava, dairy, and coffee industries. Using the Web of Science (WoS) database for the period 1996–2019, a search was performed using a keyword strategy, aiming at segregating the papers in groups. The keywords used in this search were “wastewater treatment,” “microalgae,” “cassava,” “dairy,” and “coffee” for the first step, resulting in 114 papers; for the second step, we used the keywords “wastewater treatment,” “biomass productivity,” “microalgae,” “economic viability,” and “environmental impacts,” which resulted in 29 scientific papers. In these papers, keywords such as “carbon dioxide biofixation” and “removal of nutrients by the production of biomass by microalgae” followed by “environmental and economic impacts” were highlighted. Some of these papers also presented an analysis of the economic feasibility of the process, including costs of production systems, which reveal the state-of-the-art setup required to make the cultivation of microalgae economically viable. Research in eco-industrial parks is needed to improve the integration of microalgae production systems using wastewater as a source of nutrients, aiming to achieve the global goal of bioremediation and clean alternatives for renewable energy generation.

Background and Aims Crop rotation systems and rhizobial inoculation are strategies to increase yield through organic matter addition and modulation of microbial diversity, yet the extent to which these agricultural practices change soil Bradyrhizobium populations, soybean grain yield and economic benefits to farmers are unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the interaction between crop rotation and inoculation of soybean (Glycine max) cultivated in two contrasting soils (clayey and sandy soil) on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) components, grain yields and profits. Methods Field experiments with a three-year crop rotation system were carried out to compare effects of inoculation soil chemical attributes, the of bradyrhizobia most probable number (MPN) and diversity, soybean nodulation, grain yield and economic value. Results The crop management system did not affect the soil MPN of bradyrhizobia, which was altered by the soil sampling time, with higher values during the postharvest period for the summer crops. In clayey soil, soybean nodulation was influenced by crop rotation. The grain yield of inoculated soybean in clayey soil was higher than that in sandy soil. Conclusion The soybean response to inoculation is influenced by cropping history. Crop rotation and inoculation of soybean is a strategy for improving BNF components, grain yields and profits. Over time, diversified production systems with crop rotation and inoculation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria will make great contributions to environmental and economic sustainability.

The combined inoculation of Rhizobium (R. tropici+R. freirei), Azospirillum brasilense, and Anabaena cylindrica, a diazotrophic cyanobacterium, is a technology that has not yet been tested and established in the production of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The inoculation may be a promising strategy for increasing crop productivity by combining the benefits of biological nitrogen fixation with the production of plant growth phytohormones. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the co-inoculation of Rhizobium, Azospirillum brasilense, and Anabaena cylindrica as an alternative method for optimizing the symbiotic performance and development of the common bean at greenhouse conditions. The treatments were as follows: (T1) control without N and inoculation, (T2) N addition (100 kg N ha-1), (T3) Riz (addition of R. tropici+R. freirei), (T4) Azo (Azospirillum brasilense addition), (T5) Ana (Anabaena cylindrical addition), (T6) Riz+Azo, (T7) Riz+Ana, (T8) Azo+Ana, (T9) Riz+Azo+Ana. We used a completely randomized experimental design with four replications. The co-inoculation of Riz+Azo+Ana promoted plant height, root length and volume, shoot dry matter, accumulated shoot N, number and dry matter of nodules at flowering, number of grains per pod, hundred seed weight, and grain production of the common bean, contributing to increased yield per plant. We observed an increase in common bean grain yield ranging from 62 to 84% after double and triple co-inoculation of rhizobia with azospirilla and/or cyanobacteria, with the highest yield observed in the plants inoculated with Riz+Azo+Ana (84%), similar to those observed in plants after N addition. However, field experiments are necessary to elucidate the performances of the inoculated beneficial microorganisms. A inoculação associada de Rhizobium, Azospirillum e uma cianobactéria diazotrófica Anabaena cylindrica é uma tecnologia que ainda não foi testada e estabelecida para o feijão comum (Phaseolus vulgaris) e pode ser uma estratégia promissora para aumentar a produtividade das culturas, combinando os benefícios da fixação biológica de nitrogênio com a produção de fitohormônios de crescimento vegetal. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a co-inoculação de Rizobium, Azospirilum brasilense e Anabaena cylindrica, como uma alternativa para otimizar o desempenho simbiótico e o desenvolvimento do feijoeiro, em casa de vegetação. Os tratamentos foram: T1-control, T2-N-mineral (100 kg N ha-1), T3- Rhizobium (R. tropici+R. freirei), T4- A. brasilense, T5- A. cylindrica, T6- Rhizobium + A. brasilense, T7- Riz + Ana, T8- Azo + Ana, T9- Riz + Azo + Ana. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. A co-inoculação de Rhizobium (R. tropici+R. freirei) + Azo + Ana promoveu aumento do feijão (IPR Campos Gerais) em altura das plantas, comprimento e volume de raiz, massa seca da parte aérea, N acumulado da parte aérea, número e matéria seca dos nódulos no florescimento, número de grãos por vagem, peso de cem grãos e de grãos por planta, o que contribuiu para incremento da produção. Houve um aumento na produção de grãos de feijão com co-inoculação dupla e tripla de rizobia com azospirila e / ou cianobactérias, variando de 62 a 84%, com o maior aumento de produção observado no tratamento inoculado com Riz + Azo + Ana (84%), semelhante ao tratamento com nitrogênio mineral. No entanto, experimentos de campo podem contribuir para elucidar o desempenho de microrganismos benéficos inoculados.

Active methodologies for teaching propose tools and strategies for improving student learning by using participative and integrative approaches. These lead students to autonomous research for industry problems and solutions. This study aimed to apply active-project active methodologies to undergraduate soil microbiology and inoculant courses to verify students' perception of their knowledge levels on these topics. Forty undergraduate students received the traditional methodology that presented theoretical contents referring to the soil microbiology and inoculants; one group of twenty also elected to receive active methodologies based instruction during which they developed active projects that were structured in seven steps: briefing, bibliographic research, problematization and resolution, solutions, abstract and banner creation, and presentation. At the end of the academic year, all students answered a questionnaire to verify the perception of their levels of knowledge of soil microbiology and inoculants. Regarding the topic of microbial inoculants, perceived knowledge was the same for both groups, but overall, the active methodologies group had higher perceived knowledge of good practices of inoculation. The two groups were clustered by a multivariate approach, confirming that the use of active projects can increase the knowledge and level of subject matter understanding. The active projects contributed to undergraduate students' increased assimilation and perceived understanding of soil microbiology subject matter content and microbial inoculant issues. The active projects can be explored in other subdivisions of soil science, including agriculture and environmental studies.

O milho (Zea mays L.) é uma das culturas mais importantes do mundo. O nitrogênio (N) é considerado un dos nutrientes maíz requerido pela cultura do milho, estando relacionado com a sua produção, entretanto, sujeito a perdas no solo por lixiviação, escoamento superficial e volatilização, provocando prejuízos ambientais. A aplicação de bactérias promotoras do crescimento de plantas (BPCPs), para o incremento da produção agrícola é una das alternativas mais importantes para depender menos dos fertilizantes químicos. As BPCPs estimulam a fixação biológica do nitrogênio (FBN). Algumas espécies do gênero Azospirillum têm essa capacidade além de produzir hormônios promotores de crescimento favorecendo a cultura do milho e outras Poáceas

Studies regarding soil quality and health often need to be up-to-date, as they feed new models for quantifying agricultural impacts on the environment. This study was established to understand how types of vineyard cultivation (organic and conventional) affect soil chemical and microbial attribute dynamics throughout different seasons. Vineyard management had a strong effect on chemical soil attributes. Organic carbon and phosphorus were 2.8 and 2.0 times greater, respectively, in organic vineyards than in conventional vineyards. Metabolic quotient (qCO2) values were lowest in summer and autumn, with an average of 2.31-2.49 µg C-CO2 h-1 g-1 soil, under organic management, indicating greater microbial growing efficacy. Regardless of season and sampling position, organic soil had a higher C microbial biomass than conventional vineyards, with values ranging from 179.79 to 284.71 µg g-1 soil, which were similar to those of the adjacent forest soil. Overall, there were increases in both the microbial and the chemical attributes of soil under organic vineyards compared relative to conventional management, which might have been due to the continuous input of organic matter, crop rotation, and alternative plant protection and fertilizer compounds used in organic farming. Studies regarding soil quality and health often need to be up-to-date, as they feed new models for quantifying agricultural impacts on the environment. This study was established to understand how types of vineyard cultivation (organic and conventional) affect soil chemical and microbial attribute dynamics throughout different seasons. Vineyard management had a strong effect on chemical soil attributes. Organic carbon and phosphorus were 2.8 and 2.0 times greater, respectively, in organic vineyards than in conventional vineyards. Metabolic quotient (qCO2) values were lowest in summer and autumn, with an average of 2.31-2.49 µg C-CO2 h-1 g-1 soil, under organic management, indicating greater microbial growing efficacy. Regardless of season and sampling position, organic soil had a higher C microbial biomass than conventional vineyards, with values ranging from 179.79 to 284.71 µg g-1 soil, which were similar to those of the adjacent forest soil. Overall, there were increases in both the microbial and the chemical attributes of soil under organic vineyards compared relative to conventional management, which might have been due to the continuous input of organic matter, crop rotation, and alternative plant protection and fertilizer compounds used in organic farming.

Microorganisms play essential roles in regulating the ecosystem. Several interactions occur between plants and their associated rhizobacteria, cyanobacteria, and/or mycorrhizal fungi, which result in better plant growth. This chapter presents general aspects regarding interactions between edaphoclimatic conditions and plant–microbial inoculants and their impacts on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and yields. The different roles of the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and plant-growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) are highlighted. Although the presented data demonstrated the remarkable abilities of these microorganisms, there is still much to be done on both explorations as well as the implementation of PGPM. Single microorganism inoculants, as well as formulations, have been proved to significantly increase crop production at a very low cost when compared to chemical fertilizers. Exploration that involves the understanding of the mechanism and at the same time implementation needs to take care of a great deal of optimization on field applications.

This chapter presents general aspects regarding microalgae biology and growth under ex situ conditions. Emphasis is given on some aspects of microalgae responses to major environmental and nutritional factors, for example, temperature, light, nutrients, and pH. Then, management of photobioreactor systems where microalgae are grown to achieve the objectives of producing high biomass and bioactive compounds for biotechnological applications is addressed. The feasibility of producing multiproducts has led to more efficient production pathways and use of materials and energy. Most of the studies about microalgae are addressed in an interrelated way with environment and agricultural applications.

The acid release of phosphates from rock phosphates (RP) and the retention of ammonium by inorganic phosphates have been studied separately in composting; however, there is a gap in the knowledge of combined application of RP with organic residues and microorganisms. The objectives were to evaluate the combined application of fresh poultry litter (PL) with RP and P-solubilizing microorganisms (M) on soil organic matter pools, microbial biomass C (MB-C) and on whole-plant silage maize and grain yields. Two field experiments tested the effects of timing of applications of PL (8 Mg ha–1), RP (4 Mg ha–1) and microorganisms on soil organic matter pools, nutritional aspects and productive components of maize crop whole-plant silage. A second experiment evaluated the effects of RP doses (0, 3, 6 and 9 Mg ha–1) with a fixed dose of PL (8 Mg ha–1) on maize grains. Application of PL+RP decreased soil organic C, while RP alone increased the humin fraction C compared to the control. The MB-C in soil with PL and PL+RP+M increased in comparison to the control and the RP. The application of PL, based on an average of fall and spring, increased leaves + stem dry matter, while in the fall on its own, the highest cob yield was observed in the combination of PL+RP, showing synergistic effects. The best ratio of poultry litter to rock phosphate combination is 2:1 in the anticipated fall application on the maize silage crop or immediate application on the maize grain crops.

In this study, our working hypothesis was to examine whether temperature alters biomass and metabolite production by microalgae according to strain. We also addressed whether it is possible to choose a strain suitable for growing in each season of a given region. A factorial experiment revealed a significant interaction between chlorophylls a and b (Chl a and Chl b), carotenoid/Chl (a + b) ratio, biomass and total lipid productivity of six green microalgae (four Chlorella spp., Chlorella sorokiniana and Neochloris oleoabundans) after 15 days at four temperatures. At 39/35 °C, two Chlorella sp. strains (IPR7115 and IPR7117) showed higher total carotenoids/Chl (a + b) (0.578 and 0.830), respectively. N. oleoabundans had the highest Chl a (8210 μg L−1) and Chl b (1909 μg L−1) at 19/15 °C and highest maximum dry biomass (2900 mg L−1), specific growth rate (0.538 day−1) and total lipids (1003 mg L−1) at 15/8 °C. We applied a method to infer the growth of these six green microalgae in outdoor ponds, as based on their response to changing temperatures and by combining with historical data on day/night air temperature occurrence for a given region. We conclude that the use of regionalized maps based on air temperature is a good strategy for predicting microalgal cultivation in outdoor ponds based on their features and tolerance to changing temperature.

Inoculation with Rhizobium tropici and Rhizobium freirei can partially supply the nitrogen demand required for normal development and high productivity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Here, a simple and low-cost approach was used to select R. tropici sodium azide-resistant mutants with improved efficiency as microsymbiont of common bean. We mutagenized R. tropici CIAT889 by treatment with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and selected azide-resistant mutants. Six mutants (AzR14, AzR15, AzR16, AzR17, AzR18, and AzR19) with varying levels of resistance were obtained and characterized for symbiotic traits and performance upon inoculation of common bean. Mutants grew and produced exopolysaccharides similar to the CIAT899 wildtype; however, swarming motility, biofilm, and auxin production were altered. About nodulation, shoot biomass, and nitrogen content, the performance of mutant strains was improved or similar to that of CIAT899. All mutants enhanced nodulation of common bean; furthermore, AzR14, AzR18, and AzR19 increased nodule biomass by 25%–36%. AzR18 and AzR19 increased shoot biomass by up to 13% compared to CIAT899, whereas AzR14, AzR15, AzR16, and AzR17 reduced biomass accumulation by 9%–19%. In addition, AzR18 and AzR19 showed higher motility or biofilm production than the other mutant strains, suggesting that these traits are involved in bacterial symbiotic effectiveness. Shoot N content do not differ between plants inoculated with the CIAT899 or mutant strains, although plants inoculated with AzR18, AzR19 and CIAT899 had increased the shoot N as compared to uninoculated plants grown at N-limiting conditions. Our results demonstrated the possibility to improve the performance of the R. tropici microsymbiont through induced mutagenesis followed by the selection of azide resistant mutants. This approach allowed to identify the AzR18 and AzR19 strains, which showed superior nodulation and symbiotic effectiveness than CIAT899 while providing equivalent amounts of N to the inoculated plants. We propose the AzR18 and AzR19 as promising candidates for developing new and more efficient inoculants for common bean, nevertheless further trials under field conditions are required to confirm their superior performance to the wild strain.

Methane (CH4) generation from the anaerobic digestion of vegetal biomass is an important clean alternative form of energy. In this context, the response of the physic nut seed cake to microbial inoculum for biogas and CH4 production was examined in lab-scale biogas anaerobic digesters. Two experiments were carried out with physic nut seed cake stored over 6 and 18 months. The treatments assayed in each one of these experiments included five types of inoculum: water as the control, three different consortia of bacterial isolates from Jatropha seed cake and one bacterial consortium from bio-digested swine manure. The cake stored for 18 months with water showed the highest volume of biogas, with 83.67 mL in 6.54 g of cake after 21 days, but with lower production of CH4. The best concentration of CH4 (84.33%) was obtained from the Jatropha seed cake stored for 18 months when co-digested with the consortium of 14 bacterial isolates. Co-digestion of physic nut seed cake with the bacterial consortium of isolates from Jatropha cake was the best for producing CH4. After anaerobic digestion, substrates had an increase in macro and micronutrient contents, showing potential for biofertilizer production.

Developing simple and cost-effective methods for soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) measurement eases routine laboratory analysis and enables large numbers of soil samples to be measured in a relatively short period of time. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a microwave-assisted biocidal-extraction (MWE) method which does not employ CHCl(3) as biocide and K(2)SO(4) as C-extractor, to estimate MBC. First, the microorganisms of soil samples are killed using microwave (MW) irradiation at energy level of 800 J g(−1) soil as biocide followed by microwave irradiation extraction (MWE) at 562 W (120 J g(−1) soil for 1 min), using deionized water as solvent. Microbial biomass of carbon from two contrasting soils microwaved with 80, 100, and 140 J g(−1) soil did not differ from those obtained by using the chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) method with 0.5 mol L(−1) K(2)SO(4) as extractant. To evaluate the robustness of the MWE method, twenty-six soil samples, from cultivated and non-cultivated areas, with clay contents from 70–690 g kg(−1), organic carbon from 5.52 to 50.82 g C kg(−1) and pH values from 3.9 to 6.8 were analyzed for MBC using MWE and CFE methods. There was a linear regression (MW = − 17.87 + 0.92*K(2)SO(4); R(2) = 0.705; p < 0.001) between MWE and CFE. The biocidal microwave-assisted extraction method using 120 J g(−1) soil for 1 min is a cleaner method for evaluating MBC, because it does not require chloroform, potassium sulfate salt and takes a shorter time to extract a set of soil samples.

We examined microbial communities from enriched fine and retorted shale particles using sequencing of V4 variable region of 16S rRNA. High number of microbial genera was found in both enriched shale by-products that were dominate by Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, showing differences due to microbial colonization after the pyrolysis process.

RESUMO O conhecimento das respostas de feijoeiros em razão da adubação nitrogenada ou da inoculação das sementes com rizóbios pode direcionar seus cultivos para diferentes nichos de mercado, em níveis tecnológicos diversos. Foram avaliadas as nodulações das raízes e as produtividades de grãos de 10 cultivares de feijão diante da adubação nitrogenada e da inoculação das sementes comRhizobium freirei, objetivando-se identificar em, termos de produtividades de grãos, as mais eficientes e responsivas à adubação nitrogenada, bem como à nutrição simbiótica de N em relação à adubação nitrogenada. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos em duas safras (seca-2012 e águas-2012/2013), empregando-se, em cada qual delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 10 × 3 com quatro repetições. Avaliaram-se as quantidades e massas de nódulos radiculares e produtividades de grãos de 10 cultivares de feijão dos grupos comerciais preto (IPR Gralha, IPR Tuiuiú, Rio Tibagi, BRS Esplendor e IPR Uirapuru) e carioca (IPR Tangará, Iapar 81, IPR Campos Gerais, BRS Pontal e Carioca), em razão de três tratamentos, visando variações em nutrições nitrogenadas: testemunha, sem N; com adubação nitrogenada; e inoculação das sementes com R. freirei. Feijões do grupo comercial carioca são mais produtivos e, independentemente da nodulação com rizóbios nativos ou exógenos, são mais propensos à nutrição simbiótica nitrogenada. A adubação nitrogenada é prejudicial, principalmente para as nodulações das cultivares BRS Esplendor, Carioca e BRS Pontal na safra da seca. Em termos de produtividades de grãos, as cultivares Rio Tibagi, BRS Esplendor, BRS Pontal e IPR Uirapuru são relativamente mais eficientes com a inoculação das sementes com R. freirei do que com a adubação nitrogenada, e as cultivares IPR Gralha e IPR Tangará se destacam como responsivas e eficientes à adubação nitrogenada.

Cyanobacteria, a group of N2 fixing bacteria, and some species of them are free-living or associated with other bacteria, such as Azospirillum. Their association promotes the growth and productive performance of maize (Zea mays), showing variable responses according to the maize hybrid used. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inoculation and co-inoculation of the Anabaena cylindrica (cyanobacteria) with Azospirillum brasilense on the development and productive performance of four maize hybrids. The field experiments were carried out in two locations (Londrina and Faxinal, Parana State, Brazil), using a randomized block experimental design, in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement, with four replications. Four inoculation treatments were evaluated (A. cylindrica + A. brasilense, A. cylindrica, A. brasilense, and an uninoculated control) in four maize hybrids (512 PW, 2A620 PW, 2B810 PW, Status Viptera 3). The following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, ear insertion height, stem diameter, leaf area index, chlorophyll index, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium leaf content, number of grain rows per ear, number of grains per row, number of grains per ear, number of ear per plant, mass of 1000 grains, nitrogen content in the grains and yield. The co-inoculation of A. cylindrica with A. brasilense favored the development and yield performance of maize hybrids, with an increase of 966.63 kg ha−1 (9.37%) in Londrina and 1743.79 kg ha−1 (23.1%) in Faxinal, in comparison to the uninoculated control. The maize hybrids showed the similar behavior, regardless of the inoculation or co-inoculation with A. brasilense and A. cylindrica. Therefore, these microorganisms can be recommended as inoculants.

Background:The 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc) allowed the inclusion of a subset of patients without skin involvement, emphasizing the need of early diagnosis of SSc.Objectives:In this setting, the objective of this study was to classify, according to ACR/EULAR SSc criteria, patients with Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and at least one SSc manifestation, except for skin involvement, and analyze predictors for development of SSc.Methods:This is a cross-sectional single-center analysis of consecutive patients presenting RP and a characteristic SSc manifestation (SSc autoantibody, SSc visceral involvement or SD pattern at nailfold capillaroscopy - NFC), without skin involvement, who attended a scleroderma outpatient clinic between 2010 and 2019. Patients were classified as SSc (according to ACR/EULAR SSc criteria) or undifferetiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) in their last medical visit and compared. Additionally, a longitudinal retrospective analysis of both groups was performed to find predictors for development of SSc. Data were obtained from an electronic register database. Statistical significance was set up as pResults:Among 217 patients, 153 (70.5%) were classified as SSc, at the last medical visit, including 65 (30%) after the first investigation. During a comparable median follow-up [4.9±3.8 vs. 4.6±3.0 years;p=0.90], patients with SSc presented more frequently puffy fingers (PF:73% vs. 6.3%;pvs. 57.8%;pvs. 3.1%;pvs. 10.9%;p=0.048). Furthermore, SSc patients were more frequently treated with immunosuppressive therapy (80.1%vs. 37.5%;pvs. 1.6%;pConclusion:Among patients with RP and SSc features, but without skin involvement, those with SSc had a more severe disease with worse prognosis than UCTD with RP. Puffy fingers and a higher baseline SSc score, especially in combinations including PF or lung disease were predictors of SSc, reinforcing the strength of the ACR/EULAR classification criteria and the presence of specific non-RP symptoms.Disclosure of Interests:Valdirene Siqueira: None declared, Mariely Helbingen: None declared, Ana Paula Luppino-Assad: None declared, Henrique Carriço da Silva: None declared, Danieli Andrade: None declared, Ana Cristina Medeiros-Ribeiro: None declared, Percival D. Sampaio-Barros Consultant of: Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Novartis, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis

The intensive cultivation of microalgae is an alternative for the sustainable and clean production of energy, protein, and pigments, particularly when associated with agribusiness and wastewater treatment. Intensive microalgae cultivation aims to mitigate environmental risks and microalgae by-products add value to the production chain. However, studies on the microalgae production chain in Brazil are few. Thus, the aim of this study was to review the Brazilian microalgae production chain (BMPC) and suggest alternatives for its consolidation. Its structure was mapped, showing how BMPC public research funds, research, development and innovation, publications, patents, and companies are linked. State-of-the-art research on microalgae was analyzed using the research database from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Information on the number of documents published was evaluated using the Scopus database and patent information was gathered from World Intellectual Property Organization database, Latin American Patent Bank and National Institute for Industrial Property. Despite microalgae research initiatives in Brazil, which have leveraged several research groups and generated patents, the dissemination of this knowledge to companies appears limited and is restricted to only a few regions in the country. Furthermore, Brazil has neither regionalized alignment of microalgae supplies and demand nor any organization or adequate interaction among stakeholders. The high cost of producing the raw material and the lack of organizations representing the sector are the primary barriers to the yet incipient Brazilian microalgae production chain. Likewise, a main challenge for consolidation and development of the production chain concerns the representative organization of the microalgae sector through the creation of associations.

The use of landfill leachate in agricultural soils as fertilizer emerges as an alternative for the disposal of this effluent, however presence of heavy metals may be a limiting factor for that use. Fertilization with five doses of landfill leachate (0, 32.7, 65.4, 98.1 and 130.8 m3 ha-1) and urea (120 kg ha-1) was evaluated in productivity, chemical composition and metal content of corn in crops 2010 and 2012. The accumulation of metals in leaf tissue was also evaluated in oats grown in the winter period, in the same experimental field. Productivity, besides the content proteins, lipids and ashes in grains increased with increasing doses of leachate. Concentration of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb in corn fertilized with landfill leachate did not differ from control without fertilization, except for Mn, which increased by applying leachate (p > 0.05). Increasing doses of leachate tended to raise the level of Pb (2010 crop) were not observed in the same crop later, indicating that Pb concentration is dependent on intrinsic and extrinsic factors to the soil. However, content of Cu, Mn and Pb in leaf tissue oat increased with doses of leachate, suggesting potential use as phytoremediation system. Results show the need for further investigation before safe use of landfill leachate in agricultural soil.

Dual inoculation of Casuarina sp. with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Frankia actinomycetes is typically intended to improve seedlings survival and to increase growth in degraded and low fertility soils and to replace fertilizers in low-input agricultural systems. Thus, this field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of inoculating seedlings of Casuarina cunninghamiana with mycorrhizal fungi and Frankia on tree growth on a sandy soil (Oxisol) managed with mineral fertilisation and inter-row cultivation of cover crops during 75 months. The following treatments were applied to seedlings of C. cunninghamiana: 1) inoculation with a mixture of two Frankia sp. strains (KB5 and HFPCcI3) plus AMF (Glomus clarum and Gigaspora margarita); 2) inoculation with a mixture of Frankia strains (KB5 and HFPCcI3); 3) inoculation with AMF; 4) mineral N and 5) control (no inoculated and without mineral N). Fertilization with N in the nursery improved tree height from 3 to 50 months. Diameter and wood volume were favoured by N at 10 and 17 months. Inoculation of C. cunninghamiana seedlings with Frankia showed a positive effect on height growth at 36 and 50 months. AMF and AMF plus Frankia had no effect in DBH and wood volume growth of C. cunninghamiana. This study points out the possibility of inoculation of C. cunninghamiana with selected Frankia for wood production in sandy soils managed with mineral fertilisation and inter-row cultivation of cover crops.

Microalgae are a heterogeneous group of microorganisms that produces biomass from which can be extracted various products such as proteins, carbohydrates, pigments and oils with profile containing saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. These microorganisms have different forms of energetic metabolism, especially the photoautotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic photoautotrophic. Understanding these metabolic forms allows to apply microalgae strategies of cultivation aiming to increase algal biomass production, and its co-products in large scales. Traditionally, the microalgae cultivation is done by exploiting their photoautotrophic metabolism. However, studies have point out some advantages in the production of biomass of these microorganisms by using other metabolic pathways. Thus, this review aims to present an overview of the forms of non-photoautotrophic microalgae metabolism and considerations on the different systems of biomass production of these microorganisms. In the heterotrophic metabolism, sources of carbon that have stood out the most for microalgae are: glucose, glycerol and acetic acid. Nevertheless, there are several studies that present alternative sources of culture medium, such as agro-industrial and sanitary waste. The mixotrophic can be defined as the metabolism when photosynthesis and oxidation of external organic carbon take place at the same time. In the photoherotrophic metabolism is the light energy source and the organic compound is a carbon source. The non-photoautotrophic cultivation systems are high potential, mainly for increasing production with better productivity and scaling up. However, it should be noted that information about these microalgae cultivation systems on a large scale for a competitive production is scarce.

Fine shale particles and retorted shale are waste products generated during the oil shale retorting process. These by-products are small fragments of mined shale rock, are high in silicon and also contain organic matter, micronutrients, hydrocarbons and other elements. The aims of this study were to isolate and to evaluate fungal diversity present in fine shale particles and retorted shale samples collected at the Schist Industrialization Business Unit (Six)-Petrobras in Sao Mateus do Sul, State of Parana, Brazil. Combining morphology and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, a total of seven fungal genera were identified, including Acidiella, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Ochroconis, Penicillium, Talaromyces and Trichoderma. Acidiella was the most predominant genus found in the samples of fine shale particles, which are a highly acidic substrate (pH 2.4-3.6), while Talaromyces was the main genus in retorted shale (pH 5.20-6.20). Talaromyces sayulitensis was the species most frequently found in retorted shale, and Acidiella bohemica in fine shale particles. The presence of T. sayulitensis, T. diversus and T. stolli in oil shale is described herein for the first time. In conclusion, we have described for the first time a snapshot of the diversity of filamentous fungi colonizing solid oil shale by-products from the Irati Formation in Brazil.

Landfill leachates, which are potential pollutants, may also carry significant amounts of nutrients that can be recycled by plants. We assessed the nutritional status and yield of wheat ( L.) and properties of a Rhodic Kandiudult soil (depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) after 11 applications of landfill leachate over 4 yr. In the last application, wheat received 0, 32.7, 65.4, 98.1, or 130.8 m ha (875 mg L of nitrogen, N) of leachate and a positive control (90 kg ha of N as urea) 15 d after sowing. Urea increased nitrate (>160 mg kg) in the topsoil (down to 40 cm), whereas landfill leachate increased nitrate (>60 mg kg) only at 40 to 60 cm with the highest dose, suggesting leaching. Urea-treated soil had less negative ΔpH, which might have led to greater retention of nitrate in the topsoil. Sodium (0.02-0.26 cmol Na kg), potassium (0.18-0.82 cmol K kg), and electrical conductivity (0.05-0.14 dS m) all increased with leachate dosage. Treatments did not affect resistance to penetration and clay dispersion. Basal respiration increased with leachate dosage, whereas dehydrogenase activity decreased, suggesting effects on soil microbial metabolism. Microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities were not affected by addition of leachate. Nitrogen nutrition (15.1-22.7 g N kg in flag leaves) and grain yield (1381-2378 kg grain ha) increased with leachate dosage so that the highest dose gave results similar to those for urea-treated plants (2563 kg grain ha). Landfill leachate showed strong potential as source of N for wheat but caused none, or transient, effects on soil properties. However, nitrate from leachate was more leachable than nitrate from urea.

Nitrogen (N), the nutrient most required for plant growth, is key for good yield of agriculturally important crops. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) can benefit from bacteria collectively called rhizobia, which are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen (N2) in root nodules and supplying it to the plant. Common bean is amongst the most promiscuous legume hosts; several described species, in addition to putative novel ones have been reported as able to nodulate this legume, although not always effectively in terms of fixing N2. In this study, we present data indicating that Brazilian strains PRF 35T, PRF 54, CPAO 1135 and H 52, currently classified as Rhizobium tropici , represent a novel species symbiont of common bean. Morphological, physiological and biochemical properties differentiate these strains from other species of the genus Rhizobium , as do BOX-PCR profiles (less than 60 % similarity), multilocus sequence analysis with recA, gyrB and rpoA (less than 96.4 % sequence similarity), DNA–DNA hybridization (less than 50 % DNA–DNA relatedness), and average nucleotide identity of whole genomes (less than 92.8.%). The novel species is effective in nodulating and fixing N2 with P. vulgaris, Leucaena leucocephala and Leucaena esculenta. We propose the name Rhizobium paranaense sp. nov. for this novel taxon, with strain PRF 35T ( = CNPSo 120T = LMG 27577T = IPR-Pv 1249T) as the type strain.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) can establish symbiotic associations with several Rhizobium species; however, the effectiveness of most strains at fixing nitrogen under field conditions is very low. PRF 81T is a very effective strain, usually referred to as Rhizobium tropici and used successfully in thousands of doses of commercial inoculants for the common bean crop in Brazil; it has shown high rates of nitrogen fixation in all areas representative of the crop in the country. Here, we present results that indicate that PRF 81T, although it belongs to the ‘ R. tropici group’, which includes 10 Rhizobium species, R. tropici , R. leucaenae , R. lusitanum , R. multihospitium , R. miluonense , R. hainanense , R. calliandrae , R. mayense , R. jaguaris and R. rhizogenes , represents a novel species. Several morpho-physiological traits differentiated PRF 81T from related species. Differences were also confirmed in the analysis of rep-PCR (sharing less than 45 % similarity with the other species), MLSA with recA, atpD and rpoB genes, and DNA–DNA hybridization. The novel species, for which we propose the name Rhizobium freirei sp. nov., is able to establish effective root nodule symbioses with Phaseolus vulgaris, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena esculenta, Crotalaria juncea and Macroptilium atropurpureum. The type strain is PRF 81T ( = CNPSo 122T = SEMIA 4080T = IPR-Pv81T = WDCM 440T).

This aim of this study was to examine the effects of vineyard management and spatial heterogeneity of soil on chemical and microbial variables in comparison with an adjacent forest fragment. In 2000, two field experiments with Vitis labrusca (L.) were set up on an Oxisol of North Parana, Brazil. In 2004, soil samples were taken to evaluate the following factors: (i) conventional (CONV) and organic (ORG) vineyard management and (ii) spatial heterogeneity of soil, row or inter-rows cultivation and at different sampling depths (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm), in a split-plot arrangement fitted to a randomized complete block with six replicates. The forest adjacent fragment was considered as undisturbed agricultural (or control) area. Chemical attributes of the soil in the ORG vineyard were improved in comparison to the soil in the forest, at a depth of 0-10 cm, with the exception of total carbon. To microbial carbon (Cmic) values the both factors (vineyard management and special soil heterogeneity) contributed to changes in the contents this microbiological soil attributes in the areas evaluated. While, the spatial heterogeneity of the soil was the main factor to changes in soil microbial basal respiration, with higher values in the CONV rows. Regardless of the depth, the lowest qCO2 values were observed in the soil from the ORG vineyard and the forest. The cluster analysis showed that, represented on the Axis-X, the CONV vineyards, ORG vineyards and forest clustered from the negative to the positive, progressively, indicating greater similarity between ORG and forest. Moreover, when the spatial heterogeneity of the soil was plotted on the Axis-Y, the 0-10 cm layer appeared in the positive portion, and the 10-20 cm layer appeared in the negative portion. In the short term, it appears that different vineyard management methods affected microbial variables and some similarity between ORG and forest soil.

This aim of this study was to examine the effects of vineyard management and spatial heterogeneity of soil on chemical and microbial variables in comparison with an adjacent forest fragment. In 2000, two field experiments with Vitis labrusca (L.) were set up on an Oxisol of North Paraná, Brazil. In 2004, soil samples were taken to evaluate the following factors: (i) conventional (CONV) and organic (ORG) vineyard management and (ii) spatial heterogeneity of soil, row or inter-rows cultivation and at different sampling depths (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm), in a split-plot arrangement fitted to a randomized complete block with six replicates. The forest adjacent fragment was considered as undisturbed agricultural (or control) area. Chemical attributes of the soil in the ORG vineyard were improved in comparison to the soil in the forest, at a depth of 0-10 cm, with the exception of total carbon. To microbial carbon (Cmic) values the both factors (vineyard management and special soil heterogeneity) contributed to changes in the contents this microbiological soil attributes in the areas evaluated. While, the spatial heterogeneity of the soil was the main factor to changes in soil microbial basal respiration, with higher values in the CONV rows. Regardless of the depth, the lowest qCO2 values were observed in the soil from the ORG vineyard and the forest. The cluster analysis showed that, represented on the Axis-X, the CONV vineyards, ORG vineyards and forest clustered from the negative to the positive, progressively, indicating greater similarity between ORG and forest. Moreover, when the spatial heterogeneity of the soil was plotted on the Axis-Y, the 0-10 cm layer appeared in the positive portion, and the 10-20 cm layer appeared in the negative portion. In the short term, it appears that different vineyard management methods affected microbial variables and some similarity between ORG and forest soil. objetivo deste trabalho foi examinar os efeitos de diferentes manejos de videira e espacial heterogeneidade do solo através de variáveis químicas e microbiológicas do solo e também comparar com uma área de floresta adjacente. Em 2000, dois experimentos de campo com Vitis labrusca (L.) foram instalados em Latossolo no norte do estado do Paraná, Brasil. Em 2004, amostras de solo foram coletadas para avaliar os seguintes fatores: (i) manejo de videira convencional (CONV) e orgânico (ORG) e (ii) espacial heterogeneidade do solo, considerando linha e entrelinha de cultivo e diferentes profundidades (0-10 cm e 10-20 cm), aplicando o delineamento em blocos casualizados em seis repetições. A área de floresta adjacente foi considerada como área sem perturbação agrícola (ou controle). Os atributos químicos em solo com videira ORG foram maiores em comparação com solo sob floresta, na profundidade de 0-10 cm, com exceção do carbono total. Para os valores de carbono microbiano (Cmic) ambos os fatores (manejo de videira e heterogeneidade espacial do solo) contribuíram para as mudanças observadas. Enquanto, apenas a heterogeneidade espacial do solo foi o principal fator para as alterações na respiração basal do solo, com os maiores valores observados nas linhas do CONV. Independente da profundidade, os menores valores de qCO2 foram observados em solo de videira ORG e floresta. A análise de agrupamento demonstrou que no Eixo-X, os manejos de videira agruparam-se da região negativa para positive na seqüência: CONV, seguido do ORG e floresta, com alta proximidade entre ORG e floresta. Por outro lado, quando a espacial heterogeneidade do solo, representada pelo Eixo-Y, a camada de 0-10 cm foi positiva e a camada de 10-20 cm na porção negativa. Em curto tempo, foi possível detectar diferenças entre os atributos microbiológicos do solo em diferentes manejos de videira, e indicar algumas similaridades com solo sem alterações agrícolas.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a legume that has been reported as highly promiscuous in nodulating with a variety of rhizobial strains, often with low effectiveness in fixing nitrogen. The aim of this work was to assess the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobial strains isolated from common bean seeds, nodules of Arachis hypogaea, Mucuna pruriens, and soils from various Brazilian agroecosystems, followed by the characterization of elite strains identified in the first screening. Forty-five elite strains were analyzed for symbiotic properties (nodulation, plant-growth, and nitrogen-fixation parameters) under greenhouse conditions in pots containing non-sterile soil, and variation in symbiotic performance was observed. Elite strains were also characterized in relation to morpho-physiological properties, genetic profiles of rep-polymerase chain reaction (PCR; BOX), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR of the 16S rRNA. Sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA were obtained for 17 strains representative of the main groups resulting from all previous analyses. One of the most effective strains, IPR-Pv 2604, was clustered with Rhizobium tropici, whereas strain IPR-Pv 583, showing lower effectiveness in fixing N(2), was clustered with Herbaspirillum lusitanum. Surprisingly, effective strains were clustered with unusual symbiotic genera/species, including Leifsonia xyli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia, and Enterobacter. Some strains recognized in this study were outstanding in their nitrogen-fixing capacity and therefore, show high biotechnological potential for use in commercial inoculants.

We evaluated the effects of biannual surface applications of swine wastewater (SWW) for 11 years, on chemical and microbiological attributes of a clay-textured soil under no-tillage (NT) or conventional tillage (CT) in Palotina, Paraná, Brazil. The treatments consisted of SWW doses (split into autumn-winter/spring-summer seasons) totaling 30, 60, 90 or 120 m3 ha-1 year-1, and a control without application, under CT or NT soil managements (SM). The experimental design was in randomized blocks with a split-plot arrangement and four replications, with SM in the plots and the doses of SWW in the subplots. After 11 years of applications of SWW, soil samples were taken at 0-10, 10-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm of depth by the end of the winter cover crop, 44 days after the second biannual application. The treatments had only minor effects on the assessed chemical and microbiological soil properties. Available P and NO3--N increased with the doses of SWW at the two upper soil layers, whereas NT decreased NO3--N at 10-20 cm and increased P at 0-10 cm. Zn2+ also increased with the doses of SWW, irrespectively the SM. NT increased the microbial biomass C (MBC) at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm of soil depth, and the microbial quotient (qMic) at 0-10 cm. SM and SWW did not change the densities of heterotrophic bacteria, fungi, nitrite-oxidizers or ammonifiers at any soil depth. SM had single effects on organic C, MBC and qMic, whereas SWW had single effect only on Zn2+. Only available P and NO3--N were affected by both SM and SWW. The principal component analysis for chemical and microbiological attributes showed distinct groupings between CT and NT, and SWW rates at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm of soil depths, the most influenced soil layers.

The objective of this study was to simplify the procedure for evaluation of legume nodulation, by examining if there is a relationship between the nodulation of the whole root system and at the crown region. Roots of peanut, soybean and common bean plants growing in soils were split in two parts (crown and bottom) and assessed for nodulation (nodule number and dry weight). In general, most nodules were concentrated at the crown, and crown nodulation was generally positively correlated with total nodulation of all three legume crops. The results are highly applicable in studies such as strain selection for inoculants and assessment of inoculation technologies, among others, and is an important contribution to help reduce the time and labor required for the evaluation of nodulation parameters.

O objetivo neste trabalho foi de avaliar o efeito da inoculação de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares no crescimento de mudas de peroba rosa (Aspidosperma polyneuron). O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento experimental, inteiramente casualizado, em casa de vegetação com seis repetições. Utilizou-se mistura de solo e areia (3:1), desinfestado como substrato, com os seguintes tratamentos de inoculação: Gigaspora margarita, Glomus clarum, Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora scrobiculata e uma mistura de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA). Após 120 dias, observou-se que a colonização micorrízica radicular foi de 28,3% a 48,4% para a mistura de FMA e para G. margarita, respectivamente. As plantas inoculadas com G. margarita e G. clarum apresentaram maior crescimento, indicando o potencial da inoculação desses fungos na produção de mudas.The aim of this study was to examine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on Aspidosperma polyneuron seedlings growth. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in a randomized design using a disinfected mixture of soil + sand (3:1) with the following treatments: Gigaspora margarita, Glomus clarum, Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora scrobiculata, a mixture of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) and a non-inoculated control with six replicates. After 120 days of seed germination, it was observed that root colonization was from 28.3% to 48.4% for mixture of AMF and G. margarita, respectively. The plants inoculated with G. margarita or G. clarum showed higher growth than other treatments, which evidence the potential of AMF inoculation in seedlings production.

Frankia are soil microorganisms that form symbiosis with roots of tree species called actinorhizal plants and are capable of fixing atmospheric N2. This study was carried out to characterize morphologically, physiologically and to assess the nodulation of four Frankia reference strains (HFPCcI3, JCT287, KB5 and F59) and 12 (IPRF) isolated from root nodules of Casuarina plants. All strains (Reference and IPRF) were characterized as Gram-positive and 50% as acid-fast. The Frankia strains produced alkali in the culture medium, except the IPRF006, IPRF008 and IPRF010. The colonies of strains F59, IPRF002, IPRF004, IPRF005, and IPRF011 produced melanin. Among reference strains, only JCT287 grew in culture media with pH 5.5, while with pH 6.0 both strains JCT287 and KB5 presented growth. The regression analysis showed a linear relationship (Y = 67.56+ 3.88X and R2=0.5862, p < 0.05) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r=0.766, p < 0.05) between number of spores and hyphae (120 to 480 UFC mL-1) and total protein (18 to 145 µg mL-1). It was observed that the strains F59 had a higher proportion of total protein 50.0% than JCT287 with 7.0% and that the IPRF strains showed values between 17.5 and 29.3%. All strains presented ability to produce indolic compounds in growth media with values ranging from 5.9 to 98.8 µM.Frankia são microrganismos capazes de fixar N2 quando em simbiose com espécies arbóreas, denominadas plantas actinorrízicas. Este estudo foi conduzido para caracterizar morfologicamente, fisiologicamente e avaliar a nodulação de quatro estirpes referência de Frankia (HFPCcI3, JCT287, KB5 e F59) e 12 estirpes (IPRF) isoladas de nódulos de Casuarina. Todas as estirpes (Referência e IPRF) foram Gram-positivas e 50% foram “acid-fast”. As estirpes de Frankia alcalinizaram o meio de cultura, exceto IPRF006, IPRF008 e IPRF010. As colônias das estirpes F59, IPRF002, IPRF004, IPRF005 e IPRF011, produziram melanina. Entre as estirpes referência, apenas a JCT287 cresceu no meio de cultura com pH 5,5, enquanto no meio com pH 6,0 as duas, JCT287 e KB5, apresentaram crescimento. A análise de regressão mostrou uma relação linear (Y = 67,56+ 3,88X e R2=0,5862, p < 0,05) e coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (r=0,766, p < 0,05) entre número de esporos e hifas (120 a 480 UFC mL-1) e proteína total (18 a 145 µg mL-1). Foi observado que a estirpe F59 apresentou uma maior proporção de proteína total (50%) do que a JCT287 (7,0%) e, que as estirpes IPRF mostraram valores entre 17,5 e 29,3%. Todas as estirpes produziram compostos indólicos com valores variando de 5,9 a 98,8 µM.

Introducao: A fixacao biologica de nitrogenio (FBN) realizada por bacterias associativas e um processo biquimico natural, que permite reduzir os riscos de contaminacao e tambem os custos com adubacao quimica nitrogenada, sem reduzir a produtividade das culturas e, garantindo maior competitividade aos produtos agricolas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de FBN, a producao de AIA in vitro e promocao de crescimento de plantas de milho (Zea mays L.) e feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) por estirpes de diazotroficas associativas. Metodos: Foram analisadas 23 estirpes, IPR-4924 a 5028, isoladas por diluicao seriada, de 24 amostras de solo, provenientes de um experimento com adicao de doses de lixiviado, sob plantio de trigo conduzido em 2013 na estacao experimental do Instituto Agronomico do Parana, Londrina-PR. Os isolados foram caracterizados pela Coloracao de Gram, avaliados quanto a producao de acido indol acetico (AIA) e a FBN in vitro e a promocao de crescimento radicular de milho e feijao conduzido em câmara de crescimento de plantas. Resultados: Para coloracao de Gram 13 estirpes foram Gram positivas e 10 Gram negativas. No teste de crescimento de raizes de feijao, as estirpes que apresentaram maior promocao de crescimento foram a IPR4957 e IPR4958. Para o milho, as estirpes IPR4937 e IPR4936 destacaram-se promovendo maior crescimento da radicula. A producao de AIA foi observada para todas as estirpes sendo que a maioria produziu mais de 100 μM mL. Todas as estirpes apresentaram capacidade de FBN in vitro com valores variando de 6,72 a 13,98 g kg de N fixado, com destaque para a estirpe IPR4955. Conclusao: Todas as estirpes de diazotroficas associativas estudadas foram capazes produzir AIA, fixar nitrogenio in vitro e promover o crescimento das plantas.

O principal objetivo deste estudo foi gerar tecnologias para a extração de óleo de pinhão manso, avaliando a quantidade e qualidade com diferentes métodos de extração. Para a extração do óleo foram utilizados dois tipos de extratores (fator A), prensa tipo expeller e prensa hidráulica, temperatura (fator B) frio (ambiente) e quente (80ºC) e diferentes níveis de descascado das sementes (fator C). Foi utilizado um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com arranjo fatorial AxBxC. As variáveis estudadas foram: quantidade e qualidade (acidez, teor de fósforo e umidade), do óleo bruto e filtrado, e a quantidade de torta. A prensa tipo expeller apresentou as maiores médias de desempenho de óleo bruto. A partir de três kg de sementes com 40% de descascado foi obtido 37,18% de óleo bruto. No índice de acidez, as menores médias foram observadas por prensa hidráulica, com 0% de cascas, com 4,11 mg KOH/g na acidez do óleo bruto e 5,17 mg KOH/g na acidez do óleo filtrado. Foram obtidos menores teores de fósforo, usando prensa hidráulica sem pré-aquecimento, com valores de 72,53 ppm no óleo bruto e 10,32 ppm no óleo filtrado. Foi alcançado maior teor de óleo com a prensa tipo expeller, mas de melhor qualidade na prensa hidráulica.Palavras Chave: bioenergia, biodiesel, teor de óleo.

Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLs) are a viable strategy for the recovery and maintenance of soil characteristics. In the present study, an ICL experiment was conducted by the Instituto Agronômico do Paraná in the municipality of Xambre, Parana (PR), Brazil, to evaluate the effects of various grazing intensities. The objective of the present study was to quantify the levels of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil enzymatic activity in an ICL of soybean (summer) and Brachiaria ruziziensis (winter), with B. ruziziensis subjected to various grazing intensities. Treatments consisted of varying pasture heights and grazing intensities (GI): 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm (GI-10, GI-20, GI-30, and GI-40, respectively) and a no grazing (NG) control. The microbial characteristics analysed were MBC, microbial respiration (MR), metabolic quotient (qCO2), the activities of acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, arylsuphatase, and cellulase, and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis. Following the second grazing cycle, the GI-20 treatment (20-cm - moderate) grazing intensity) contained the highest MBC concentrations and lowest qCO2 concentrations. Following the second soybean cycle, the treatment with the highest grazing intensity (GI-10) contained the lowest MBC concentration. Soil MBC concentrations in the pasture were favoured by the introduction of animals to the system. High grazing intensity (10-cm pasture height) during the pasture cycle may cause a decrease in soil MBC and have a negative effect on the microbial biomass during the succeeding crop. Of all the enzymes analyzed, only arylsuphatase and cellulase activities were altered by ICL management, with differences between the moderate grazing intensity (GI-20) and no grazing (NG) treatments. O sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP) tem se evidenciado como alternativa viável para a recuperação e manutenção das características do solo. Este estudo foi desenvolvido em um experimento de ILP conduzido pelo Instituto Agronômico do Paraná no município de Xambrê, PR, com diferentes intensidades de pastejo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM) e a atividade enzimática no solo, em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária com soja cultivada no verão e Brachiaria ruziziensis no inverno, sendo esta submetida a diferentes intensidades de pastejo. Os tratamentos constaram de diferentes alturas de pasto e intensidades de pastejo: 10; 20; 30; e 40 cm (IP-10, IP-20, IP-30 e IP-40, respectivamente) e uma área sem pastejo (SP). Os atributos microbiológicos analisados foram CBM, respiração microbiana (RM), quociente metabólico (qCO2), atividade das enzimas fosfatase ácida, β-glucosidase, arilsulfatase, celulase e hidrólise do diacetato de fluoresceína (FDA). Após o segundo ciclo da pastagem, o tratamento IP-20 (intensidade moderada de pastejo 20 cm) apresentou os maiores teores de CBM e os menores de qCO2. Após o segundo ciclo da soja, o tratamento com maior intensidade de pastejo IP-10 demonstrou o menor teor de CBM. Os teores de CBM do solo na pastagem foram favorecidos pela inserção dos animais no sistema. A alta intensidade de pastejo (10 cm de altura da pastagem) durante o ciclo da pastagem pode provocar redução no C microbiano do solo, com efeito negativo sobre a mesma na cultura sucessora. Entre as enzimas avaliadas, somente a arilsulfatase e celulase foram sensíveis para avaliar o manejo ILP, com diferenças entre os tratamentos com intensidade moderada de pastejo (IP-20) e a área sem pastejo.

Crop rotation and tillage impact microbial C dynamics, which are important for sequestering C to offset global climate change and to promote sustainable crop production. Little information is available for these processes in tropical/subtropical agroecosystems, which cover vast areas of terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, a study of crop rotation in combination with no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems was conducted on an Oxisol (Typic Haplorthox) in an experiment established in 1976 at Londrina, Brazil. Soil samples were taken at 0–50, 50–100 and 100–200 mm depths in August 1997 and 1998 and evaluated for microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and mineralizable C and N. There were few differences due to crop rotation, however there were significant differences due to tillage. No tillage systems increased total C by 45%, microbial biomass by 83% and MBC:total C ratio by 23% at 0–50 mm depth over CT. C and N mineralization increased 74% with NT compared to CT systems for the 0–200 mm depth. Under NT, the metabolic quotient (CO2 evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 32% averaged across soil depths, which suggests CT produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NT systems. These soil microbial properties were shown to be sensitive indicators of long-term tillage management under tropical conditions. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.