Phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated vineyard soils in Brazil: A compendium of Brazilian pot studies.

Vineyard soils can be contaminated by copper (Cu) due to successive applications of fungicides and organic fertilizers. Soil remediation can be addressed by altering soil properties or selecting efficient Cu-extracting cover crops tolerant to Cu toxicity. Our objectives were to synthesize the Cu-extracting efficiency by plant species tested in Brazil, classify them according to Cu resistance to toxicity, and assess the effect of soil properties on attenuating Cu toxicity.

Organic fertilization and mycorrhization increase copper phytoremediation by Canavalia ensiformis in a sandy soil.

Organic fertilization and mycorrhization can increase the phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soils. The time of vermicomposting alters the properties of vermicompost, which can affect copper's availability and uptake. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the effect of different organic fertilizers and mycorrhization on copper-contaminated soil phytoremediation.

CO flux in a wheat-soybean succession in subtropical Brazil: A carbon sink.

The subtropical region of Brazil is home to 33% of the soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growing area and 90% of the wheat (Tritucum aestivum L.

Phytotoxicity Optimization of Fungal Metabolites Produced by Solid and Submerged Fermentation and its Ecotoxicological Effects.

Research and commercial production of bioherbicides occur to a lesser extent compared to bioinsecticides and biofungicides. In order to contribute to developing new bioherbicides with low environmental impact, this study aimed to increase the phytotoxicity of metabolites of the fungus Mycoleptodiscus indicus UFSM 54 by optimizing solid and submerged fermentation and evaluate the ecotoxicological effects on earthworms (Eisenia andrei). The Plackett-Burman and central composite rotatable designs were used to optimize metabolite phytotoxicity.

Chitinase production by Trichoderma koningiopsis UFSMQ40 using solid state fermentation.

The chitinases have extensive biotechnological potential but have been little exploited commercially due to the low number of good chitinolytic microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to identify a chitinolytic fungal and optimize its production using solid state fermentation (SSF) and agroindustry substrate, to evaluate different chitin sources for chitinase production, to evaluate different solvents for the extraction of enzymes produced during fermentation process, and to determine the nematicide effect of enzymatic extract and biological control of Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita nematodes. The fungus was previously isolated from bedbugs of Tibraca limbativentris Stal (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and selected among 51 isolated fungal as the largest producer of chitinolytic enzymes in SSF.

Phytostimulation of lowland soil contaminated with imidazolinone herbicides.

The phytostimulation is a phytoremediation technique that can be used to remediate area contaminated with herbicides. It is necessary to select plants with high capacity to stimulate soil microbial activity. The present work aimed at evaluating seven plant species regarding their ability to phytostimulate soil and enhance the degradation of the herbicides imazethapyr, imazapic and imazapyr in a lowland soil.

Earthworms and mycorrhization increase copper phytoextraction by Canavalia ensiformis in sandy soil.

Phytoremediation is an alternative for remediating soil contamination by copper, and its efficiency has been shown to increase when arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms are separately inoculated into the soil. This study evaluated the isolated and combined effects of inoculating earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi into a sandy soil on copper phytoremediation by Canavalia ensiformis. The plants were grown in a greenhouse in soil contaminated with 100 mg Cu kg with and without being inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus clarum and the earthworm Eisenia andrei.

Moisture Is More Important than Temperature for Assembly of Both Potentially Active and Whole Prokaryotic Communities in Subtropical Grassland.

Moisture and temperature play important roles in the assembly and functioning of prokaryotic communities in soil. However, how moisture and temperature regulate the function of niche- versus neutral-based processes during the assembly of these communities has not been examined considering both the total microbial community and the sole active portion with potential for growth in native subtropical grassland. We set up a well-controlled microcosm-based experiment to investigate the individual and combined effects of moisture and temperature on soil prokaryotic communities by simulating subtropical seasons in grassland.

Earthworm diversity in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The knowledge regarding earthworm species richness in subtropical Brazil is limited, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), where only a few sites have been sampled. In this study we assessed earthworm richness in different ecosystems of RS, prioritizing un-sampled regions. Fifteen ecosystems, including native vegetation and other ecosystems with variable levels of disturbance were sampled in 30 counties in RS, totaling 77 sampling points, mainly in the Pampa biome.

Seasonal dynamics alter taxonomical and functional microbial profiles in Pampa biome soils under natural grasslands.

Soil microbial communities' assembly is strongly tied to changes in temperature and moisture. Although microbial functional redundancy seems to overcome taxonomical composition changes, the sensitivity and resilience of soil microbial communities from subtropical regions in response to seasonal variations are still poorly understood. Thus, the development of new strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management require a complete understanding of the soil abiotic process involved in the selection of microbial taxa and functions.

First report of the production of a potent biosurfactant with α,β-trehalose by Fusarium fujikuroi under optimized conditions of submerged fermentation.

Biosurfactants have many advantages over synthetic surfactants but have higher production costs. Identifying microorganisms with high production capacities for these molecules and optimizing their growth conditions can reduce cost. The present work aimed to isolate and identify a fungus with high biosurfactant production capacity, optimize its growth conditions in a low cost culture medium, and characterize the chemical structure of the biosurfactant molecule.

Vermicompost dose and mycorrhization determine the efficiency of copper phytoremediation by Canavalia ensiformis.

The phytoremediation of copper (Cu)-contaminated sandy soils can be influenced by the addition of vermicompost to the soil and the mycorrhization of plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus clarus and the addition of different doses of bovine manure vermicompost on the phytoremediation of a sandy soil with a high Cu content using Canavalia ensiformis. Soil contaminated with 100 mg kg Cu received five doses of vermicompost and was cultivated with C.

Selection, isolation, and identification of fungi for bioherbicide production.

Production of a bioherbicide for biological control of weeds requires a series of steps, from selection of a suitable microbial strain to final formulation. Thus, this study aimed to select fungi for production of secondary metabolites with herbicidal activity using biological resources of the Brazilian Pampa biome. Phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from infected tissues of weeds in the Pampa biome.

Land-use change and soil type are drivers of fungal and archaeal communities in the Pampa biome.

The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that both land-use change and soil type are responsible for the major changes in the fungal and archaeal community structure and functioning of the soil microbial community in Brazilian Pampa biome. Soil samples were collected at sites with different land-uses (native grassland, native forest, Eucalyptus and Acacia plantation, soybean and watermelon field) and in a typical toposequence in Pampa biome formed by Paleudult, Albaqualf and alluvial soils. The structure of soil microbial community (archaeal and fungal) was evaluated by ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis and soil functional capabilities were measured by microbial biomass carbon and metabolic quotient.

Improved enrichment and isolation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-degrading microorganisms in soil using anthracene as a model PAH.

Lack of attention to soil and microbial characteristics that influence PAHs degradation has been a leading cause of failures in isolation of efficient PAH degraders and bioaugumentation processes with microbial consortia. This study compared the classic method of isolation of PAHs-degraders with a modified method employing a pre-enrichment respirometric analysis. The modified enrichment of PAH degrading microorganisms using in vitro microcosm resulted to reduced enrichment period and more efficient PAH-degrading microbial consortia.

Mass spectrometry analysis of surface tension reducing substances produced by a pah-degrading Pseudomonas citronellolis strain.

In this work we investigated the structure of the iron-stimulated surface tension reducing substances produced by P. citronellolis 222A isolated from a 17-years old landfarming used for sludge treatment in petrochemical industries and oil refinery. Its mass spectrum differs from P.

Anthracene biodegradation and surface activity by an iron-stimulated Pseudomonas sp.

Iron may enhance polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) degradation directly by increasing the activity of the enzymes involved in the aerobic biodegradation pathways for hydrocarbons, and indirectly by increasing the PAHs bioavailability due to the stimulation of biosurfactant production. In the present work, the PAH anthracene was used in order to study the effect of different forms and concentrations of iron on its biodegradation and surfactant production by Pseudomonas spp. isolates from a 14-years old petrochemical sludge landfarm site.

Microbial consortium bioaugmentation of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated soil.

In this study we evaluated the capacity of a defined microbial consortium (five bacteria: Mycobacterium fortuitum, Bacillus cereus, Microbacterium sp., Gordonia polyisoprenivorans, Microbacteriaceae bacterium, Naphthalene-utilizing bacterium; and a fungus identified as Fusarium oxysporum) isolated from a PAHs contaminated landfarm site to degrade and mineralize different concentrations (0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg kg(-1)) of anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene in soil. PAHs degradation and mineralization was evaluated by gas chromatography and respirometry, respectively.