Applications and Market of Micro-Organism-Based and Plant-Based Inputs in Brazilian Agriculture.

The use of plant-based and micro-organism-based biological inputs is a sustainable agricultural practice. It promotes a suitable and better utilization of non-renewable resources in the environment. The benefits of using micro-organisms are associated with direct and indirect mechanisms, mainly related to improvements in the absorption and availability of nutrients, resulting in a consequent impact on plant growth.

Root colonization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition in a genetically modified maize, its non-modified isoline, and a landrace.

The use of genetically modified (GM) plants has increased in recent decades, but there are uncertainties about their effects on soil microbial communities. Aiming to quantify root colonization and characterize arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities associated with roots and rhizosphere soil of different maize genotypes, a field trial was carried out in Southern Brazil with three maize genotypes as follows: a GM hybrid (DKB 240 VTPRO), its non-modified isoline (DKB 240), and a landrace (Pixurum). Soil samples were collected to evaluate the occurrence of AMF during the growth of corn genotypes at sowing and V3 (vegetative), R1 (flowering), and R3 (grain formation) stages of the crop.

The extreme plant-growth-promoting properties of Pantoea phytobeneficialis MSR2 revealed by functional and genomic analysis.

Numerous Pantoea strains are important because of the benefit they provide in the facilitation of plant growth. However, Pantoea have a high level of genotypic diversity and not much is understood regarding their ability to function in a plant beneficial manner. In the work reported here, the plant growth promotion activities and the genomic properties of the unusual Pantoea phytobeneficialis MSR2 are elaborated, emphasizing the genetic mechanisms involved in plant colonization and growth promotion.

Plant growth-promoting activities and genomic analysis of the stress-resistant STB1, a bacterium of agricultural and biotechnological interest.

In this work, the stress-resistant STB1 is characterized and its ability to promote plant growth under normal and stress conditions is demonstrated. The genomic sequence of this bacterium, and a detailed analysis of the genes involved in facilitating its stress resistance and plant growth-promoting activities is also reported. The STB1 genome is rich in genetic elements involved in multiple stress resistance, xenobiotic degradation, pathogen antagonistic activities, and other traits related to soil and rhizosphere colonization.

Landrace maize varieties differ from conventional and genetically modified hybrid maize in response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Land area planted with genetically modified (GM) crops has grown rapidly, and Brazil has the second largest area with those plants. There is, however, limited information on the possible effects of that technology on non-target organisms, especially root symbionts, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We evaluated AMF symbiosis development in five maize genotypes: one landrace, two conventional hybrids (DKB 240 and Formula), and two GM hybrids (DKB 240-VT Pro and Formula TL).

Selection and characterization of coal mine autochthonous rhizobia for the inoculation of herbaceous legumes.

Coal open pit mining in the South of Santa Catarina state (Brazil) was inappropriately developed, affecting approximately 6.700 ha. Re-vegetation is an alternative for the recovery of these areas.