Uso de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) na promoção do crescimento de mudas de pinheira (Annona squamosa L., Annonaceae) Use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to promote the growth of sugar apple seedlings (Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae)

Os fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) podem ser usados na formação de mudas frutíferas, porém o seu efeito na pinheira não é conhecido. Foi investigado o papel de dois isolados de FMA (Acaulospora longula e Gigaspora albida) na promoção do crescimento de mudas de pinheira. O delineamento experimental foi tipo inteiramente casualizado em seis tratamentos: 1) Controle não inoculado em solo; 2) Controle não inoculado em solo adubado; 3) Inoculado com A. longula em solo; 4) Inoculado com A. longula em solo adubado; 5) Inoculado com G. albida em solo; 6) Inoculado com G. albida em solo adubado, em quatro repetições, totalizando 24 unidades. Plântulas com duas folhas foram inoculadas na região das raízes com solo-inóculo fornecendo 200 esporos de G. albida ou de A. longula. Após 140 dias em casa de vegetação avaliou-se: altura, número de folhas, diâmetro do caule, área foliar, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e radicular, colonização micorrízica e produção de esporos de FMA. Em solo não adubado, os benefícios da micorrização foram evidenciados nas mudas formando simbiose com G. albida. Em solo com vermicomposto, a micorrização não incrementou o crescimento da mudas. A micorrização com G. albida pode ser alternativa para produção de mudas de pinheira, dispensando a fertilização.<br>Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be used to promote seedling growth of fruit trees, but their effect on sugar apple is not known. We investigated the role of two isolates of AMF (Acaulospora longula and Gigaspora albida) in promoting the growth of sugar apple seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and four replicates (totaling 24 units): 1) uninoculated control; 2) uninoculated control in fertilized soil; 3) inoculated with A. longula in soil, 4) inoculated with A. longula in fertilized soil, 5) inoculated with G. albida in soil; 6) inoculated with G. albida in fertilized soil. Seedlings with two leaves were inoculated in the region of the roots with soil-inocula with 200 spores of G. albida or A. longula. After 140 days in a greenhouse the height, leaf number, stem diameter, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, root colonization and production of spores were evaluated. The seedlings benefited from G. albida mycorrhiza when grown in unfertilized soil. Mycorrhizal inoculation did not increase the growth of seedlings in soil with vermicompost. The use G. albida is an alternative in the production of sugar apple seedlings, instead of fertilizers

Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi during the Acclimatization of Alpinia purpurata to Induce Tolerance to Meloidogyne arenaria

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the tolerance of micropropagated and mycorrhized alpinia plants to the parasite Meloidogyne arenaria. The experimental design was completely randomized with a factorial arrangement of four inoculation treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Gigaspora albida, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Acaulospora longula, and a non-inoculated control) in the presence or absence of M. arenaria with five replicates. The following characteristics were evaluated after 270 days of mycorrhization and 170 days of M. arenaria inoculation: height, number of leaves and tillers, fresh mass of aerial and subterranean parts, dry mass of aerial parts, foliar area, nutritional content, mycorrhizal colonization, AMF sporulation, and the number of galls, egg masses, and eggs. The results indicated a significant interaction between the treatments for AMF spore density, total mycorrhizal colonization, and nutrient content (Zn, Na, and N), while the remaining parameters were influenced by either AMF or nematodes. Plants inoculated with A. longula or C. etunicatum exhibited greater growth than the control. Lower N content was observed in plants inoculated with AMF, while Zn and Na were found in larger quantities in plants inoculated with C. etunicatum. Fewer galls were observed on mycorrhized plants, and egg mass production and the number of eggs were lower in plants inoculated with G. albida. Plants inoculated with A. longula showed a higher percentage of total mycorrhizal colonization in the presence of the nematode. Therefore, the association of micropropagated alpinia plants and A. longula enhanced tolerance to parasitism by M. arenaria

Responses of Guava Plants to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Soil Infested with Meloidogyne enterolobii

In the Northeast of Brazil, expansion of guava crops has been impaired by Meloidogyne enterolobii that causes root galls, leaf fall and plant death. Considering the fact that arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) improve plant growth giving protection against damages by plant pathogens, this work was carried out to select AMF efficient to increase production of guava seedlings and their tolerance to M. enterolobii. Seedlings of guava were inoculated with 200 spores of Gigaspora albida, Glomus etunicatum or Acaulospora longula and 55 days later with 4,000 eggs of M. enterolobii. The interactions between the AMF and M. enterolobii were assessed by measuring leaf number, aerial dry biomass, CO₂ evolution and arbuscular and total mycorrhizal colonization. In general, plant growth was improved by the treatments with A. longula or with G. albida. The presence of the nematode decreased arbuscular colonization and increased general enzymatic activity. Higher dehydrogenase activity occurred with the A. longula treatment and CO₂ evolution was higher in the control with the nematode. More spores and higher production of glomalin-related soil proteins were observed in the treatment with G. albida. The numbers of galls, egg masses and eggs were reduced in the presence of A. longula. Inoculation with this fungus benefitted plant growth and decreased nematode reproduction