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The present research was carried out in an organoponic belonging to the University of Matanzas. With the aim to evaluate the biochemical and productivity responses of carrot (Daucus carota L.) after the application of native microorganisms four treatments were analyzed (control, native microorganism's bio-preparations with doses of 4 mL m-2, 8 mL m-2 and 10 mL m-2, the ME were sprayed on 20, 40 and 60 days, respectively). The experimental design employed was a complete randomize block. The yield and its components as well as the biochemical parameters total soluble protein, carbohydrates and reducing sugar were measured. The obtained results suggested that the native microorganisms had a positive effect on the yield and its components in carrot plants, where 10 mL m-2 was the most effective dose, increased 0,72 kg m-2. The contents of soluble carbohydrates, reducing sugar and soluble proteins were also increased in a maxim value of 3.35 mg mL-1, 17.6 kg m-2 and 8.05 kg m-2 respectively, with the application of the studied bioproduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was done at the Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS) “Juan de Mata Reyes", in Pedro Betancourt municipality, Matanzas. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of indigenous microorganisms (IMO) preparations on the growth of onion (Allium cepa L.), variety Texas Early Grano. Five treatments were studied (control, a 2 mL.m2 treatment before transplantion, a 4 mL.m2 treatment before transplantation, and both 2 and 4 mL.m2 treatments 20 days after transplantion). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design. The professional statistical pack STATISTICA, version 6.0 for WINDOWS was used for data processing. The results were statistically processed using simple analysis of variance and the Duncan´s multiple comparison Test for media with a level of significance of pd"0.05. The native microorganisms in the preparations were characterized. 60 days after transplantation, the parameters height of plant, number of leaves and diameter of the false stem were evaluated; and at harvest time, the total yield (t.ha-1) and the number of bulbs in diameter category were determined. The best results concerning the height of the plant (cm), diameter of false stem (mm) and total yield (t.ha-1).were obtained with the preparation of 2 mL.m2 at the moment of transplantion, and 20 days after the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bordering on the edge of the Entrepeñas reservoir (Guadalajara, Spain), next to the village of Pareja, a small dam that allows a body of water to develop with a constant level has been built. Initiatives like this (which we have termed “limno-reservoirs”) are innovative in Spain and around the world. Earlier reservoirs such as this one were constructed to create a habitat for birds, but the Pareja limno-reservoir is the first to promote socio-economic development. In order to study this limno-reservoir, this research group set up an environmental observatory, analyzing, among other variables, microbiological water quality and nutrient content. After a year and a half of research, it was observed that the concentration of microorganisms is lower in the limno-reservoir than in the river that feeds it, possibly due to the nutrient depletion in the lentic ecosystem. In the limno-reservoir, the total coliforms and enterococci concentrations fall within the European Bathing Water Directive limits, but in the river these concentrations are sometimes higher. The nutrient load in the limno-reservoir is low, with nutrient variations influencing native microorganisms, but not for total coliforms and enterococci. However, the development of special conditions in the bottom has been observed in winter, facilitating coliforms and enterococci survival. This research is very interesting since the creation of limno-reservoirs is rising in Spain and no research is being done on their behaviour. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we investigated the basic interactions between plant, rhizosphere microorganisms and Cd pollution. The effectiveness of the inoculation of an indigenous Cd-adapted arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) strain of Glomus mosseae and/or a Cd-adapted bacterium (Brevibacillus sp.), both isolated from Cd-contaminated soil, was assayed in Trifolium plants growing in Cd-polluted soil. The behavior of the Cd-adapted G. mosseae strain was compared with that of a collection G. mosseae isolate (BEG 119). Results showed the functional compatibility of autochthonous microorganisms, which resulted in a biomass increase of 545% (shoot) and 456% (roots) compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. Single AM fungi (autochthonous or reference strains) and bacterial inoculation also proved highly effective in increasing plant biomass and nutrition. G. mosseae (BEG 119, reference strain) was less efficient than Brevibacillus sp. in increasing shoot growth. Co-inoculation with both microorganisms increased to the highest extent root biomass and symbiotic structures (nodules and AM colonization), and this may be responsible for the beneficial effect found. While plant acquisition of N and P were consistently enhanced by the application of the Cd-adapted autochthonous Brevibacillus sp. plus AM fungus, the Cd uptake by Trifolium plants decreased in dual AM fungus–bacterium treatments. Thus, the combined microbial inoculation conferred tolerance to Cd by increasing nutrient status and rooting development, and by decreasing Cd availability and uptake by the plant. The indigenous bacterial isolate was able to growth at increasing Cd concentrations (from 25 to 100 μg g−1 Cd) while the growth of a reference, non-Cd-adapted, bacterial strain fell to zero in medium having 25 μg g−1 Cd, indicating the tolerance to Cd of the indigenous bacterium. The beneficial effect of inoculated microorganisms on symbiotic and nutritional plant values is relevant for the increased growth and nutrition of plants growing in Cd-contaminated soils. The inoculation of suitable symbiotic and saprophytic rhizosphere microorganisms isolated from Cd-polluted soils plays an important role in the development and metal tolerance by plants and in soil bioremediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]