Non-native Brachiaria humidicola with biological nitrification inhibition capacity stimulates in situ grassland N2O emissions.

Introduction: Brachiaria humidicola, a tropical grass, could release root exudates with biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity and reduce soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from grasslands. However, evidence of the reduction effect in situ in tropical grasslands in China is lacking. Methods: To evaluate the potential effects of B. humidicola on soil N2O emissions, a 2-year (2015-2017) field experiment was established in a Latosol and included eight treatments, consisting of two pastures, non-native B. humidicola and a native grass, Eremochloa ophiuroide, with four nitrogen (N) application rates. The annual urea application rates were 0, 150, 300, and 450 kg N ha-1. Results: The average 2-year E. ophiuroides biomass with and without N fertilization were 9.07-11.45 and 7.34 t ha-1, respectively, and corresponding values for B. humidicola increased to 31.97-39.07 and 29.54 t ha-1, respectively. The N-use efficiencies under E. ophiuroide and B. humidicola cultivation were 9.3-12.0 and 35.5-39.4%, respectively. Annual N2O emissions in the E. ophiuroides and B. humidicola fields were 1.37 and 2.83 kg N2O-N ha-1, respectively, under no N fertilization, and 1.54-3.46 and 4.30-7.19 kg N2O-N ha-1, respectively, under N fertilization. Discussions: According to the results, B. humidicola cultivation increased soil N2O emissions, especially under N fertilization. This is because B. humidicola exhibited the more effective stimulation effect on N2O production via denitrification primarily due to increased soil organic carbon and exudates than the inhibition effect on N2O production via autotrophic nitrification. Annual yield-scaled N2O emissions in the B. humidicola treatment were 93.02-183.12 mg N2O-N kg-1 biomass, which were significantly lower than those in the E. ophiuroides treatment. Overall, our results suggest that cultivation of the non-native grass, B. humidicola with BNI capacity, increased soil N2O emissions, while decreasing yield-scaled N2O emissions, when compared with native grass cultivation.

Brachialactone isomers and derivatives of Brachiaria humidicola reveal contrasting nitrification inhibiting activity.

Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) of Brachiaria humidicola has been mainly attributed to the root-exuded fusicoccane-type diterpene brachialactone. We hypothesized, however, that according to the high diversity of fusicoccanes described for plants and microorganisms, BNI of B. humidicola is caused by an assemblage of bioactive fusicoccanes. B. humidicola root exudates were collected hydroponically and compounds isolated by semi-preparative HPLC. Chemical structures were revealed by spectroscopic techniques, including HRMS as well as 1D and 2D NMR. Nitrification inhibiting (NI) potential of isolated compounds was evaluated by a Nitrosomonas europaea based bioassay. Besides the previously described brachialactone (1), root exudates contained 3-epi-brachialactone (2), the C3-epimer of 1 (m/z 334), as well as 16-hydroxy-3-epi-brachialactone (3) with an additional hydroxyl group at C16 (m/z 350) and 3,18-epoxy-9-hydroxy-4,7-seco-brachialactone (4), which is a ring opened brachialactone derivative with a 3,18 epoxide ring and a hydroxyl group at C9 (m/z 332). The 3-epi-brachialactone (2) showed highest NI activity (ED50 ~ 20 µg mL-1, ED80 ~ 40 µg mL-1), followed by compound 4 with intermediate (ED50 ~ 40 µg mL-1), brachialactone (1) with low and compound 3 without activity. In coherence with previous reports on fusicoccanes, stereochemistry at C3 was of high relevance for the biological activity (NI potential) of brachialactones.

Nitrate reductase activity in leaves as a plant physiological indicator of in vivo biological nitrification inhibition by Brachiaria humidicola.

The tropical forage grass Brachiaria humidicola (Bh) controls soil microbial nitrification via biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). The aim of our study was to verify if nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in Bh roots or leaves reflects in vivo performance of BNI in soils. NRA was measured in roots and leaves of contrasting accessions and apomictic hybrids of Bh grown under controlled greenhouse and natural field conditions. Nitrate (NO3-) contents were measured in soil solution and in Bh stem sap to validate NRA data. Potential soil nitrification rates (NRs) and leaf δ15N values were used to verify in vivo BNI by the NRA assay in the field study. NRA was detected in Bh leaves rather than roots, regardless of NO3- availability. NRA correlated with NO3- contents in soils and stem sap of contrasting Bh genotypes substantiating its reflectance of in vivo BNI performance. Additionally, leaf NRA data from the field study significantly correlated with simultaneously collected NRs and leaf δ15N data. The leaf NRA assay facilitated a rapid screening of contrasting Bh genotypes for their differences in in vivo performance of BNI under field and greenhouse conditions, but inconsistency of the BNI potential by Bh germplasm was observed. Among Bh genotypes tested, leaf NRA was closely linked with nitrification activity, and consequently with actual BNI performance. It was concluded that NRA in leaves of Bh can serve as an indicator of in vivo BNI activity when complemented with established BNI methodologies (δ15N, NRs) under greenhouse and field conditions.

An integrative insight on dormancy alleviation in diaspores of Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga, a tropical grass with great economic and ecological impact.

Even though exhaustively studied, dormancy alleviation in diaspores of Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga remains a mystery. To clarify this, we asked the following question: could dormancy alleviation in diaspores of this species be associated with ageing, GA/ABA balance and remaining structures of the panicoid spikelet? We answer this question using diaspores of U. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi as a biological model, a cultivar with a wide edaphoclimatic range in Neotropical areas and whose diaspores possess 'deep dormancy' when dispersed. We analysed both germination and early plant development using a split-plot model. Our findings demonstrate that dormancy alleviation in diaspores of U. humidicola is a synergic phenomenon driven by crosstalk between age, GA/ABA balance and remaining structures of the panicoid spikelet covering caryopses, since this interaction acts on the dynamics of germination and early plant development. We demonstrate that: (i) spreading germination time is a maternal survival mechanism of this species, which has repercussions for occupational aggressiveness of the species; (ii) remaining structures of the panicoid spikelet covering caryopses are the main modulator of embryo development. These structures control the after-ripening process, which is modulated by some molecular factor. We also highlight that it is necessary to review concepts about dormancy of dispersal units in this grass species.

Special metabolites isolated from Urochloa humidicola (Poaceae)

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify special metabolites in polar extracts from Urochloa humidicola (synonym Brachiaria humidicola) that have allelopathic effects and induce secondary photosensitization in ruminants. The compounds were isolated and identified via chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The compounds 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzoic acid, trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, and p-hydroxy-benzoic acid; the flavonols isorhamnetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and methyl quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronate; and kaempferitrin, quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, and tricin were identified in the extract from the leaves of Urochloa humidicola. Two furostanic saponins, namely, dioscin and 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-4)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-penogenin, as well as catechin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were identified in the methanolic extract obtained from the roots of this plant. This species features a range of metabolites that may be toxic for animals if used in food and may interfere with the growth medium, thereby inhibiting the development of other species.

Cyathostomin larvae: presence on Brachiaria humidicola grass during the rainy and dry seasons of Brazil / Larvas de ciatostomíneos: disponibilidade em gramínea Brachiaria humidicola nas estações chuvosa e seca do Brasil

The presence of cyathostomin larvae is directly associated to climatic conditions of each region. This study aimed to evaluate the ecology of infective larvae on Brachiaria humidicola during the dry and rainy seasons from October 2007 to September 2008 in a tropical region, Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil. Stools were collected from the rectum of horses naturally infected with cyathostomins at the beginning of the rainy season (October to March) and dry season (April to September). They were divided into four samples of 500 g and deposited on a grass patch of B. humidicola. Seven days later and every 15 days thereafter samples of feces and grass were collected and processed by the Baermann technique. The mean number of larvae recovered from the grass varied according to the season, with greater recovery of larvae during the peak of the dry season (14,700 L3.kg-¹ DM). There was a statistically significant difference between L3 recovered from feces and grass, but not between L3 recovered from the grass base and apex. These results show that the region’s climate favors the development and survival of infective cyathostomin larvae throughout the year, with a greater number of larvae during the dry season.

A disponibilidade de larvas de ciatostomíneos está diretamente relacionada com as condições climáticas de cada região. Para avaliar o comportamento das larvas infectantes nos períodos seco e chuvoso em gramínea Brachiaria humidicola, realizou-se um estudo, no período de outubro/2007 a setembro/2008, na região da Baixada Fluminense, RJ, de clima tropical. Amostras de fezes foram coletadas diretamente do reto de equinos naturalmente infectados por ciatostomíneos, no início do período chuvoso (outubro a março) e seco (abril a setembro), divididas em quatro amostras de 500 g e depositadas em um canteiro formado por gramínea B. humidicola. Sete dias após o depósito e, posteriormente, a cada 15 dias, amostras de fezes e gramíneas, foram coletadas às 8 horas e processadas pela técnica de Baermann. O número médio de larvas recuperadas da gramínea variou conforme os períodos, ocorrendo maior recuperação no ápice do período seco (14.700 L3.kg-1. MS). Diferença significativa ocorreu entre a contagem de L3 recuperadas das fezes e gramínea e não significativa entre as de L3 recuperadas nas duas alturas da gramínea. Concluiu-se que as condições climáticas da região favorecem o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência de larvas infectantes de ciatostomíneos durante todo o ano, com maior disponibilidade no período seco.

Diversidade de fungos micorrízicos e colonização radicular, em forrageiras solteiras e em consórcio com milho / Mycorrhizal fungus diversity and radicular colonization, on single and consorciation with maize

O sistema de manejo interfere nas propriedades microbiológicas do solo, que por sua vez afeta a ciclagem de nutrientes, alterando, portanto, a sua sustentabilidade. Dentre os vários indicadores microbiológicos do solo, estão a quantificação e qualificação de esporos de fungos micorrízicos e sua colonização radicular. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de forragens e/ou culturas em consórcio, na população micorrízica autóctone, através da análise quantitativa e qualitativa de esporos no solo e colonização radicular das culturas e/ou pastagens. As culturas e/ou forragens instaladas em cada piquete foram: 1. Panicum maximum cv Aruana; 2. Brachiaria humidicola + milho; 3. Brachiaria humidicola; 4. Panicum maximum cv Aruana + milho; 5. Soja (Glycine max); 6. Soja. A colonização micorrízica foi influenciada pela interação entre plantas; os dados mostraram que a presença do Panicum maximum cv. Aruana, em comparação com Brachiaria humidicola, alterou a colonização radicular do milho. Parece ocorrer associação preferencial de espécies de fungos a determinados hospedeiros. Os gêneros de maior ocorrência após a implantação das culturas e forragens foram: Glomus sp., Acaulospora sp. e Scutelospora cerradensis.

Soil management alters their microbiological properties and consequently the nutrient cycling which also affects sustentability. Among several microbiological soil indicators, can be outstanding micorhizal fungus spores quantification and qualification and root colonization. The aim of this research was evaluate the effect of several planting culture in crop and livestock integration on autoctone populations of mycorrhyzal fungus, through quantitative and qualitative analysis of soil spores and root colonization of crops and pastures. Crops and/or pastures were planted in each plot were: 1. Panicum maximum cv Aruana; 2. Brachiaria humidicola + maize (Zea mays); 3. Brachiaria humidicola; 4. Panicum maximum cv Aruana + maize; 5. Soybean (Glycine max); 6. Soybean. It was observed that root colonization was influenced by the interaction between plants and the date showed that Panicum maximum cv. Aruana compared with Brachiaria humidicola affected root colonization in maize. The results indicated a preferencial association between fungi species to certain host plants. After planting crops and pastures, the genera with higher occurrence were: Glomus sp., Acaulospora sp. e Scutelospora cerradensis.

Composição química e digestibilidade ruminal in situ da forragem de quatro espécies do gênero Brachiaria / Chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability of four Brachiaria species

Avaliaram-se a composição química e a cinética da digestibilidade ruminal in situ da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) da forragem de quatro espécies de Brachiaria, com 56 dias de crescimento, coletadas por corte manual. Foram utilizadas três vacas mestiças Holandês x Zebu, fistuladas no rúmen. Foram observados teores de 21,0; 21,1; 20,5 e 19,6 por cento de MS; 7,5; 6,4; 6,8 e 7,0 por cento de PB; e 66,8; 70,1; 73,4 e 63,9 por cento de FDN, respectivamente, para B. brizantha, B. decumbens, B. humidicola e B. ruziziensis. O maior valor nutricional foi da B. ruziziensis, que apresentou as mais elevadas taxas de degradação e degradabilidades efetivas (DE) da MS e da PB, e o menor teor de FDN associado à maior taxa de degradação desse nutriente. A forragem de pior qualidade nutricional foi B. humidicola, com menores valores de DE da MS e PB e maiores concentrações das frações fibrosas e indigestíveis.

The chemical composition and the ruminal in situ degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of four species of Brachiaria were evaluated. The forages were harvested at 56 days of growth. Three rumen-fistulated crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows were used. The chemical composition of B. brizantha, B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis, and B. humidicola forages were, respectively: 21.0, 21.1, 20.5, and 19.6 percent for DM; 7.5, 6.4, 6.8, and 7.0 percent for CP; and 66.8, 70.1, 73.4, and 63.9 percent for NDF. B. ruziziensis presented the best nutritional value among the Brachiaria species, as indicated by the highest effective degradability (ED) and ruminal degradation rates of both DM and CP. B. ruziziensis also showed the highest NDF ruminal degradation rate and the lowest NDF concentration. In contrast, B. humidicola showed the worst nutritional composition, as indicated by the lowest DM and CP ED values and the highest content of indigestible and fibrous fractions.

Qualidade física e fisiológica de sementes de braquiárias comercializadas em Campo Grande-MS / Physical and physiological quality of seeds of Brachiaria grass commercialized in Campo Grande (Brazil)

Conduziu-se, o presente trabalho, no Laboratório Didático de Análise de Sementes da Universidade para o Desenvolvimento do Estado e da Região do Pantanal - UNIDERP, com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade física e fisiológica de sementes de três espécies de braquiárias (Brachiaria brizantha, B. humidicola e B. decumbens), provenientes de seis empresas estabelecidas no comércio de Campo Grande-MS. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 X 6, com três espécies e seis procedências, totalizando 18 tratamentos. As variáveis analisadas foram: pureza física, primeira contagem do teste de germinação, germinação, valor cultural e massa de 1.000 sementes. Para análise estatística, os dados, quando necessário, foram transformados e as médias comparadas. Há grande variação na qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes de braquiárias comercializadas em Campo Grande-MS; as sementes da espécie B. humidicola, comercializadas em Campo Grande-MS são, em geral, de baixa qualidade física e fisiológica.

The present work was carried out at the Didactic Laboratory of Analysis of Seeds of the Universidade para o Desenvolvimento do Estado e da Região do Pantanal - UNIDERP, with the aim of evaluating the physical and physiological quality of seeds of three Brachiaria grass species (Brachiaria brizantha, B. humidicola and B. decumbens), proceeding from six companies located at the commercial area of Campo Grande (Brazil). The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized experimental design in factorial scheme, with four replications. The factors were: species (three) and origins (six); totalizing 18 treatments. The pureness, first counting of the germination test, germination, pure germinating seeds and biomass of 1,000 seeds were evaluated. For the statistical analysis, the data were transformed and the means were compared, when necessary. There is high variation in the physical and physiological quality of the seeds of Brachiaria grass commercialized in Campo Grande. The seeds with best physical and physiological quality of B. brizantha specie are from companies 1 and 4. The seeds of B. humidicola, commercialized in Campo Grande presents low physical and physiological quality as a whole. The seeds of B. decumbens with the best physical and physiological quality are from companies 1 and 6.

Producción, Composición Química y Degradabilidad Ruminal In Situ de Brachiaria humidicola (RENDLE) Schweick en el Bosque Seco Tropical / Yield, Chemical Composition and Ruminal Degradability of the Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick in Tropical Dry Forest

Parcelas de 1 m² de Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick se cortaron a los 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84 y 98 días de edad, para determinar la producción de materia seca, composición química y degradabilidad in situ, en las épocas seca (ES) y lluviosa (EL). Se determinaron la materia seca (MS), proteína cruda (PC), fibra detergente ácido (FDA), fibra detergente neutro (FDN) y lignina (Lig) en las muestras de campo. Se utilizaron dos toretes fistulados en el rumen para la evaluación de la degradabilidad in situ de la MS y PC. La producción se incrementó (P<0,05) desde 1.099,3 kg ha-1 corte-1 (14d) hasta 2.654,0 kg ha-1 corte-1 (98d) y desde 1.547,1 kg ha-1 corte-1 (14d) hasta 3.092,7 kg ha-1 corte-1 (98d) en ES y EL respectivamente. La MS se incrementó (P<0,05) de 41,1% (14d) a 47,7% (98d) durante ES y de 35,7% (14d) a 43,0% (98d) durante EL. La MO permaneció constante durante ES (89,0%), mientras que en EL se incrementó (P<0,05) de 84,7% (14d) a 90,3% (98d). La PC disminuyó (P<0,05) de 6,6% (14d) a 4,8% (98d) y de 8,5 (14d) a 4,3% (98d) en ES y EL respectivamente. La FDN permaneció constante entre edades (70,6% y 76,0% para ES y EL, respectivamente). La FDA en EL (37,9%) fue mayor (P<0,05) que en ES (40,5%). La Lig permaneció constante en ES (4,38%), mientras que en EL se incrementó de 5,0% (14d) a 6,3% (98d). La desaparición de MS no fue diferente entre edades de corte, pero sí entre épocas.

The change in chemical composition, dry matter yield, and in situ degradability of Brachiaria humidicola grass cut at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, and 98 days of regrowth, during dry (DS) and rainy seasons (RS). Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and lignin (L) were determined. Two young bulls rumen fistulated were used to evaluate in situ degradability of dry matter and crude protein. DM yield increased (P<0.05) from 1,099 kg ha-1 (14 d) to 2,654 kg ha-1 (98 d) during DS and from 1,547 kg ha-1 (14 d) to 3,092 kg ha-1 (98 d) during RS. OM kept constant during DS (89%), but increased (P<0.05) from 84.7% to 90.3% during the RS. CP decreased from 6.6% (14 d) to 4.8% (98 d), and from 8.5% (14 d) to 4.3% (98 d) to DS and RS, respectively. FDN remained constant throughout cutting ages and seasons. FDA was higher (P<0.05) for DS (37.9%) than RS (40%). Lignin kept constant in DS but increased (P<0.05) from 5.0 to 6.3% in RS. Rumen DM disappearance was not different between cutting ages but it was affected by seasons (DS: 75.24% vs RS: 78.06%), respectively.