ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The endophytic bacteria belong to a larger group of microorganisms that have their life-cycle partly or entirely inside the plant and are located in intra and inter-cellular spaces or in the vascular tissue. These bacteria can be found colonizing aerial parts or roots. This review aims to analyze the colonization strategies of endophytic bacteria through interaction with plants, as well as to highlight the metabolic influence of these organisms in plant tissues, which result in physiological and biochemical changes. Depending on the different mechanisms used internally to colonize a plant, these microorganisms are called obligate, facultative, or passive endophytes. Phytostimulation, biofertilization and biological control are mechanisms that result in the development of the plant through the production of plant hormones, bioavailability of nutrients and antagonistic action to phytopathogens, respectively. The association between endophytic bacteria and plants features important benefits such as significant increases in growth, plant biomass, length of roots, dry matter production, and grain yield. Studies show that there is a great diversity of endophytic bacteria colonizing plant structures that result in several benefits to the host plant.
Subject(s)
Pest Control, Biological , Fertilization , Endophytes , Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacokinetics , Biological AvailabilityABSTRACT
Oryzophagus oryzae (Costa Lima 1936) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) cause important crop losses in southern Brazil. Control is possible by the use of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis and extracts of Melia azedarach. This study aimed to evaluate the mortality, in vivo, of O. oryzae and S. frugiperda submitted to two isolates of B. thuringiensis and the aqueous extract of M. azedarach. The LC50 for O. oryzae due to bacteria was 5.40μg/mL (Bt 2014-2) and due to plant extract 0.90μg/mL. For S. frugiperda, the Bt 1958-2 bacterial suspension (1.10(10)UFC/mL) caused a 100% of corrected mortality, showing that the purified Cry proteins caused a CL10 of 268μg/mL five days after the treatments, and M. azedarach toxins caused a CL50 173μg/mL four days after the treatment. Corrected mortality for O. oryzae and S. frugiperda in the interaction between the bacterial and plant toxins were 11 and 6%, respectively. In the PCR analysis of B. thuringiensis isolates, DNA fragments were enlarged and corresponded to the cry1 and cry2 genes for Bt 1958-2. Thus, it could be concluded that the usage of Bt 2014-2 active against O. oryzae larvae; Bt 1958-2 for S. frugiperda and, for both the insect species, M. azedarach aqueous extract could be used.