Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd. ) Poir from Brazilian semi-arid

Abstract Many plant species from Brazilian semi-arid present arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in their rhizosphere. These microorganisms play a key role in the establishment, growth, survival of plants and protection against drought, pathogenic fungi and nematodes. This study presents a quantitative analysis of the AMF species associated with Mimosa tenuiflora, an important native plant of the Caatinga flora. AMF diversity, spore abundance and root colonization were estimated in seven sampling locations in the Ceará and Paraíba States, during September of 2012. There were significant differences in soil properties, spore abundance, percentage of root colonization, and AMF diversity among sites. Altogether, 18 AMF species were identified, and spores of the genera Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Dentiscutata, Entrophospora, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, Glomus, Racocetra, Rhizoglomus and Scutellospora were observed. AMF species diversity and their spore abundance found in M. tenuiflora rhizosphere shown that this native plant species is an important host plant to AMF communities from Brazilian semi-arid region. We concluded that: (a) during the dry period and in semi-arid conditions, there is a high spore production in M. tenuiflora root zone; and (b) soil properties, as soil pH and available phosphorous, affect AMF species diversity, thus constituting key factors for the similarity/dissimilarity of AMF communities in the M. tenuiflora root zone among sites.

Cytological characterization of an Aspergillus nidulans mutant from a strain with chromosomic duplication

A development mutant, named V103, was obtained spontaneously from the A strain of A. nidulans. The A strain contains a duplicated segment of chromosome I that has undergone translocation to chromosome II (I ¨ II). It is mitotically unstable and generates phenotypically deteriorated types, some with enhanced stability. The deteriorated variants of A. nidulans show abnormal development, exhibiting slower colony growth, variations in colony pigmentation and changes in conidiophore structure. The alterations observed in the conidiophore include fewer metulae and phialides, further elongation and ramification of these structures, delayed nuclear migration and the presence of secondary conidiophores.

Germination and mycelial growth of Bipolaris euphorbiae Muchovej & Carvalho as influenced by herbicides and surfactants

Bipolaris euphorbiae Muchovej & Carvalho can be combined with herbicide in order to control a large spectrum of weed species, being a strong candidate for the biocontrol of Euphorbia heterophylla L. (milk weed). The fungus release can be combined with herbicide in order to control a broader spectrum of weed species. Thus. Laboratory experiments were set up to study the feasibility of using tank mixes of B. euphorbiae spores with herbicides or surfactants recommended for soybean. Mycelial growth and conidia germination were evaluated in PDA medium enriched with the herbicides oxasulfuron (80 g/ha), glyphosate (4 L/ha), bentazon (1.5 L/ha), fomesafen (1 L/ha), chlorimuron-ethyl (80 g/ha), lactofen (1 L/ha) and imazetaphyr (1 L/ha), and the surfactants Energic (2 ml/L), Aterbane (2.5 ml/L), Silwet L-77 Ag (1 ml/L), Herbitensil (2 ml/L) and Natur LÆóleo (10 ml/L). Dilution of the herbicides at 50 percent and 25 percent were evaluated based on solution consumption of 300 L/ha. The surfactants were evaluated only in the recommended concentrations. Mycelial growth was not affected by bentazon and fomesafen and slightly by oxasulfuron. However, glyphosate and the surfactants Energic, Herbitensil and Aterbane strongly reduced its growth. The reduction observed on imazetaphyr enriched medium was intermediate and the NaturÆóleo promoted mycelial growth. All of the surfactants allowed B. euphorbiae conidia germination equivalent to that reached in the presence of water. Energic and Herbitensil caused an expressive retardation on spore germination. The germinative process only began after 120 minutes in the presence of Herbitensil. In relation to the herbicides, it was observed that only in the presence of glyphosate and imazetaphyr the conidia germination did not follow the trend of the treatment with water.

Optimisation of fermentation conditions for gluconic acid production by a mutant of Aspergillus niger.

Aspergillus niger ORS-4, isolated from the sugarcane industry waste materials was found to produce notable level of gluconic acid. From this strain, a mutant Aspergillus niger ORS-4.410 having remarkable increase in gluconic acid production was isolated and compared for fermentation properties. Among the various substrates used, glucose resulted into maximum production of gluconic acid (78.04 g/L). 12% concentration led to maximum production. Effect of spore age and inoculum level on fermentation indicated an inoculum level of 2% of the 4-7 days old spores were best suited for gluconic acid production. Maximum gluconate production could be achieved after 10-12 days of the fermentation at 30 degrees C and at a pH of 5.5. Kinetic analysis of production indicated that growth of the mutant was favoured during initial stages of the fermentation (4-8 days) and production increased during the subsequent 8-12 days of the fermentation. CaCO3 and varying concentrations of different nutrients affected the production of gluconic acid. Analysis of variance for the factors evaluated the significant difference in the production levels.

Modelling Sporangiospore-yeast transformation of Dimorphomyces strain.

Two types of buffered media, strictly defined-Ammonium sulphate-basal salts and complex Peptone-basal salts, were used for the cultivation of Dimorphomyces pleomorphis, one of two dimorphic fungi isolated from fermenting juice of soursop fruit, Annona muricata L. The growth count was taken every twenty-four hours. Transient morphologies were observed to change from sporangiospores through enlarged globose cells, to granular particles and eventually, polar budding yeast cells in the strictly defined medium at 15 degrees, 20 degrees, or 37 degrees C, but the complex medium casually terminally induced polar budding yeast cells and multipolar budding yeast like cells in between the growth phases, at 15 degrees and 20 degrees C, while mainly multipolar budding yeastlike morphology was observed at elevated temperature. There was obvious influence of nutritional factor or morphological expression (p < 0.01). After analysis of variance, the growth data could not fit into predictive quadratic polynomial model because the organism's response curves were incongruent with basic assumptions of the model. Furthermore, a stepwise regression analysis gave very low coefficients of determination, r2, for the interactive combinations. They were therefore, considered unfit for the data. Construction of the pII-profiles led to inference being drawn from the chemiosmotic theory, polyelectrolyte theory to account for the behaviour in the buffered multiionic media. It was also thought that inherent cellular mitotic division and glycolytic activity led to a prelogarithmic growth response.