Caracterização química dos géis produzidos pelas bactérias diazotróficas Rhizobium tropici e Mesorhizobium sp.

The exopolysaccharides with characteristics of gel produced by Rhizobium tropici (EPS RT) and Mesorhizobium sp (EPS MR) are acidic heteropolysaccharide composed mainly of glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 4:1 and 5:1 respectively, with traces of mannose (~ 1%). Chemical analysis showed the presence of uronic acid, pyruvate and acetyl-substituents in the structures of both polymers. Experiments of gel permeation chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that EPS RT and EPS MR are homogeneous molecules with low grade of polydispersity. The EPS were characterized using spectroscopic techniques of FT-IR, ¹H and 13C-NMR.

Ação de herbicidas sobre o crescimento de estirpes de Rhizobium tropici

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento das estirpes de Rhizobium tropici BR 322 e BR 520, utilizadas como inoculantes na cultura do feijoeiro no Brasil, em meio de cultura à base de manitol e extrato de levedura (YM) adicionado de diferentes herbicidas (bentazon, metolachlor, imazamox, fluazifop-p-butil, fomesafen e paraquat). Os herbicidas fluazifop-p-butil e fomesafen foram avaliados puros e em mistura comercial, em concentrações variando entre 0,0 e 49,23 mg L-1. O crescimento das estirpes de Rhizobium foi avaliado em espectrofotômetro ao longo de 100 horas de incubação, por meio da leitura da densidade ótica, a 560 nm, sendo, posteriormente, convertido em unidades formadoras de colônia por mL. Observou-se que o paraquat foi o herbicida com maior inibição do crescimento das estirpes avaliadas, seguido pela mistura comercial de fomesafen e fluazifop-p-butil. Para os demais herbicidas, a redução do crescimento não foi significativa. De modo geral, a estirpe BR 520 mostrou-se mais tolerante aos herbicidas testados, com exceção do paraquat. No ensaio de concentrações crescentes do fomesafen, isolado ou em mistura com fluazifop-p-butil, não foi possível determinar o I50 (concentração do herbicida que reduz em 50% o crescimento do rizóbio); a maior redução, de 31,1%, foi observada para a estirpe BR 322 na máxima concentração testada (49,23 mg L-1) da mistura comercial.

Inoculación de Vicia villosa R (Veza) y Melilotus alba M (Trébol dulce) con cepas de Rhizobium y su efecto como abonos verdes en la fertilización del suelo

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias con Especialidad en Microbiología) UANL

Transducción generalizada en cepas Rhizobium spp [por] Rosalía Anaya Elizalde

Tesis (Maestría en Ciencias con Especialidad en Microbiología) U.A.N.L.

La fijación biológica de nitrógeno en frijol bajo condiciones de temporal y la diversidad genética de las poblaciones nativas de Rhizobium

Tesis (Doctorado en Ciencias con Especialidad en Microbiología) UANL

Producción de trehalosa por cepas de Rhizobium spp. y su relación con el comportamiento saprofítico

Tesis (Doctorado en Ciencias con Especialidad en Microbiología) UANL

Predation of Bradysia sp (Diptera: Sciaridae), Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) by Coenosia attenuata (Diptera: Muscidae) in greenhouse crops

We studied the predation behaviour of the "hunter fly" (Coenosia attenuata Stein) in the laboratory and greenhouse. In the laboratory, which was conducted at 25 degrees C at 60-80% RH, with a 16L : 8D photoperiod, we examined the functional response of this species to three different pests, namely the sciarid fly (Bradysia sp.), the tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and the leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii. In the greenhouse, we studied the population dynamics of the predator and its prey on pepper and water melon crops grown in southern Spain. Adult hunter flies were found to exhibit a type I functional response to adult sciarid flies and whiteflies, but a type II response to adult leaf miners. The type II response was a result of the greater difficulty in capturing and handling leaf miners compared to the other two species. The dynamics of the predator-prey interaction in the greenhouse revealed that the predator specializes mainly on adult sciarids and that the presence of the other prey can be supplemental, but is never essential for survival of the predator; this, however, is crop-dependent. The results oil the dynamics of the predator-prey systems were obtained through a known population dynamics model with modifications.

Diversity, phylogeny and distribution of bean rhizobia in salt-affected soils of North-West Morocco

Different molecular methods: BOX-PCR fingerprinting, R-FLP-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rDNA as well as the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH, were used to study the genetic diversity within a collection of nodulating bean rhizobia isolated from five soils of North-West Morocco. BOX fingerprints analysis of 241 isolates revealed 19 different BOX profiles. According to the PFLP-PCR and sequencing of 16S rDNA carried out on 45 representative isolates, 5 genotypes were obtained corresponding to the species Rhizobium etli, R. tropici, R. gallicum, R. leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti. The most abundant species were R. etli and R. tropici (61% and 24%, respectively). A high intraspecific diversity was observed among the R. etli isolates, while the R. tropici group was homogeneous. Most of the rhizobia studied belong to species known to nodulate common bean, while 2 species were unconventional microsymbionts: R. leguminosarum biovar viciae and S. meliloti. Our results, especially the nodulation promiscuity of common bean and the relation between the predominance of some species of rhizobia in particular soils and the salt content of these soils, indicate that there is a real need for a better understanding of the distribution of common bean rhizobia species in the soils of Morocco before any inoculation attempt.

Metabolism of Rhizobium bacteroids

Nitrogen fixation within legume nodules results from a complex metabolic exchange between bacteria of the family Rhizobiaciae and the plant host. Carbon is supplied to the differentiated bacterial cells, termed bacteroids, in the form of dicarboxylic acids to fuel nitrogen fixation. In exchange, fixed nitrogen is transferred to the plant. Both the bacteroid and the plant-derived peribacteroid membrane tightly regulate the exchange of metabolites. In the bacteroid oxidation of dicarboxylic acids via the TCA cycle occurs in an oxygen-limited environment. This restricts the TCA cycle at key points, such as the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, and requires that inputs of carbon and reductant are balanced with outputs from the TCA cycle. This may be achieved by metabolism through accessory pathways that can remove intermediates, reductant, or ATP from the cycle. These include synthesis of the carbon polymers PHB and glycogen and bypass pathways such as the recently identified 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase reaction in soybean bacteroids. Recent labeling data have shown that bacteroids synthesize and secrete amino acids, which has led to controversy over the role of amino acids in nodule metabolism. Here we review bacteroid carbon metabolism in detail, evaluate the labeling studies that relate to amino acid metabolism by bacteroids, and place the work in context with the genome sequences of Mesorhizobium loti and Sinorhizobium meliloti. We also consider a wider range of metabolic pathways that are probably of great importance to rhizobia in the rhizosphere, during nodule initiation, infection thread development, and bacteroid development.

Amino-acid cycling drives nitrogen fixation in the legume - Rhizobium symbiosis

The biological reduction of atmospheric N-2 to ammonium (nitrogen fixation) provides about 65% of the biosphere's available nitrogen. Most of this ammonium is contributed by legume rhizobia symbioses(1), which are initiated by the infection of legume hosts by bacteria (rhizobia), resulting in formation of root nodules. Within the nodules, rhizobia are found as bacteroids, which perform the nitrogen fixation: to do this, they obtain sources of carbon and energy from the plant, in the form of dicarboxylic acids(2,3). It has been thought that, in return, bacteroids simply provide the plant with ammonium. But here we show that a more complex amino-acid cycle is essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium in pea nodules. The plant provides amino acids to the bacteroids, enabling them to shut down their ammonium assimilation. In return, bacteroids act like plant organelles to cycle amino acids back to the plant for asparagine synthesis. The mutual dependence of this exchange prevents the symbiosis being dominated by the plant, and provides a selective pressure for the evolution of mutualism.

Evidence of immunomodulatory effects of a novel probiotic, Bifidobacterium longum bv. infantis CCUG 52486

Bifidobacterium longum bv. infantis CCUG 52486 was originally isolated from healthy elderly subjects and demonstrated to have particular ecological fitness and anti-pathogenic effects. Bifidobacteria are commonly associated with immunomodulatory properties, especially in older people, but this strain has not been investigated for effects on immune function. This study aimed to explore the immunomodulatory effects of this novel probiotic, compared with three commercial strains, B. longum SP 07/3, L. rhamnosus GG (L.GG) and L. casei Shirota (LcS). Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from fasting blood of young or older volunteers and exposed to probiotic strains or Con A. NK activity and activation, and cytokine release were enhanced by all probiotics with strain-specificities. The effect of B. infantis on NK activity was influenced by ageing. Except for L.GG, probiotics increased IFN-γ production to a much greater degree in young subjects, and increased IL-6 production to a much greater degree in older subjects. Based on IL-10/IL-12 ratios, B. infantis resulted in the most anti-inflammatory profile of all of the probiotics. These results suggest that B. infantis CCUG 52486 has strong immunomodulatory potential compared with well-known commercial strains, and that the immune response to probiotics may be influenced by ageing.

Genetic characterization and nitrogen fixation capacity of Rhizobium strains on common bean

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a caracterização genética de quatro novas estirpes de Rhizobium e a avaliação de sua capacidade de fixação de N2 e nodulação, comparadas a estirpes comerciais e à população nativa de rizóbios de um Latossolo Vermelho. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos em blocos ao acaso, em casa de vegetação. No primeiro experimento, conduzido em tubetes com vermiculita, avaliaram-se a nodulação e a capacidade de fixação das novas estirpes, em comparação com as estirpes comerciais CIAT-899 e PRF-81 e com a população nativa do solo. Das colônias puras isoladas, extraiu-se o DNA genômico e realizou-se o seqüenciamento do espaço intergênico, para a caracterização genética das estirpes e da população nativa de rizóbios. O segundo experimento foi realizado em vasos com solo, para determinação da produtividade e da nodulação do feijoeiro, cultivar Pérola, com o uso das estirpes isoladamente ou em mistura com a PRF-81. A população nativa do solo foi identificada como Rhizobium sp. e se mostrou ineficiente na fixação de nitrogênio. Foram encontradas três espécies de Rhizobium entre as quatro novas estirpes. As estirpes LBMP-4BR e LBMP-12BR estão entre as que têm maior capacidade de nodulação e fixação de N2, e apresentam respostas diferenciadas quando misturadas à PRF-81.

Estirpes de Rhizobium tropici na inoculação do feijoeiro

Avaliando o comportamento do feijoeiro inoculado com cinco estirpes de Rhizobium tropici e a adubação mineral com nitrogênio, sobre alguns fatores relacionados à sua produtividade, utilizou-se um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com oito tratamentos constituídos pela inoculação do feijoeiro cultivar IAC Carioca com cinco estirpes de Rhizobium tropici (CIAT 899 - estirpe referência; F35; F54; F81 e CM255), dois controles sem inoculação sendo um adubado com N na semeadura e em cobertura e outro sem adubação e um cultivar não nodulante (NORH 54) adubado; com seis repetições. Avaliaram-se: número de nódulos por planta; massa de material seco da parte aérea; teor de N nas folhas; número de vagens por planta; número de grãos por planta; número de grãos por vagem; peso de 100 grãos e produtividade de grãos. A inoculação de estirpes eficientes de Rhizobium em cultivar nodulante de feijoeiro, ou o cultivo deste em solos com população nativa eficiente, pode possibilitar a não utilização de nitrogênio em cobertura na cultura do feijoeiro, sem afetar a produtividade.

Propriedades reológicas e efeito da adição de sal na viscosidade de exopolissacarídeos produzidos por bactérias do gênero Rhizobium

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Constrained BV description of string field theory

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)