RESUMO

Given the increasing problems of water and soil contamination with cadmium (Cd), it is necessary to investigate the genetic and physiological mechanisms of tolerance to this metal in different crops, which can be used for the development of effective crop management strategies. This study aimed to assess the potential of grafting as a strategy to increase Cd tolerance and reduce absorption in tomato by evaluating the contribution of the root system and aerial parts for tolerance mechanisms. To this end, reciprocal grafting and diallel analyses were used to examine the combining ability of contrasting tomato genotypes under exposure to 0 and 35 µM CdCl2. Roots and above-ground parts were found to have specific mechanisms of Cd tolerance, absorption, and accumulation. Grafting of the USP15 genotype (scion) on USP16 (rootstock) provided the greatest synergism, increasing the tolerance index and reducing the translocation index and Cd accumulation in leaves. USP163 exhibited potential for breeding programs that target genotypes with high Cd tolerance. In tomato, both Cd tolerance and accumulation in aerial parts are genotype- and tissue-specific, controlled by a complex system of complementary mechanisms that need to be better understood to support the development of strategies to reduce Cd contamination in aerial parts.

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Potentially toxic elements (PTE) in soil like copper (Cu) have been common in agricultural and mining areas worldwide. The sustainable remediation of these areas has been shown to have high socio-environmental relevance and phytoremediation is one of the green technologies to be considered. The challenge is to identify species that are tolerant to PTE, and to assess their phytoremediation potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological response of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit and to determine the species tolerance and phytoremediation potential to concentrations of Cu in the soil (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/dm3). The photosynthetic rate was not affected, while the content of chlorophylls decreased as Cu concentrations increased. There was an increased in stomatal conductance and water use efficiency from the treatment of 300. The root biomass and the length were bigger than the shoots, in the treatments above 300. Cu accumulation was greater in the roots than in the shoot of the plants, thus, the Cu translocation index to the shoot was lower. The ability to absorb and accumulate, mainly, Cu in the roots, allowed the development and growth of plants, since the parameters of photosynthesis and biomass accumulation were not affected by the Cu excess. This accumulation in the roots is characterized as a strategy for the phytostabilization of Cu. Therefore, L. leucocephala is tolerant to the Cu concentrations evaluated and has a potential phytoremediation of Cu in the soil.

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RESUMO

Fungal metallo-tolerance has been described in different species and plays an important role in bioremediation of contaminated environments. Metallo-tolerance is mainly documented by microdilution assays and agar well diffusion methods using equipment that can be expensive. The tolerance index can be calculated to determine the efficiency of a fungus to degrade and resist heavy metals. The present protocol is based on analyzing the tolerance index and minimum inhibitory concentration of the metallo-tolerance potential of culturable fungi on solid media. This can be calculated by daily measurements of colony size on agar supplemented with different concentrations of heavy metals. This method is an easy approach to determine fungal heavy metal resistance using simple laboratory equipment without spectroscopy.

RESUMO

Drought-sensitive crops are threatened as a consequence of limited available water due to climate change. The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) is susceptible to drought and within its wild relative species, Solanum kurtzianum is the Argentinian wild potato species best adapted to arid conditions. However, its physiological responses to water deficit (WD) are still missing. Within the distribution of S. kurtzianum, genotypes could be adapted to differential precipitation regimes. The aim of this work was to evaluate responses of three S. kurtzianum genotypes collected at 1100 (G1), 1900 (G2) and 2100 m a.s.l. (G3) to moderate and severe WD. Treatments were imposed since flowering and lasted 36 days. Yield components, morpho-physiological and biochemical responses; and phenotypic plasticity were evaluated. The three genotypes presented mechanisms to tolerate both WD treatments. G1 presented the lowest yield reduction under moderate WD, mainly through a rapid stomatal closure and a modest vegetative growth. The differences among genotypes suggest that local adaptation is taking place within its natural habitat. Also, G2 presented environmentally induced shifts in plasticity for stomatal length and carotenoids, suggesting that phenotypic plasticity has a role in acclimation of plants to WD until selection works.

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Water deficits are the major constraint in some potato-growing areas of the world. The effect is most severe at the tuberization stage, resulting in lower yield. Therefore, an assessment of genetic and phenotypic variations resulting from water deficits in Colombia germplasm is required to accelerate breeding efforts. Phenotypic variations in response to a water deficit were studied in a collection of Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja. A progressive water deficit experiment on the tuberization stage was undertaken using 104 genotypes belonging to the Working Collection of the Potato Breeding Program at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. The response to water deficit conditions was assessed with the relative chlorophyll content (CC), maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), relative water content (RWC), leaf sugar content, tuber number per plant (TN) and tuber fresh weight per plant (TW). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were used, and the Drought Tolerance Index (DTI) was calculated for the variables and genotypes. The soluble sugar contents increased significantly under the deficit conditions in the leaves, with a weak correlation with yield under both water treatments. The PCA results revealed that the physiological, biochemical and yield-component variables had broad variation, while the yield-component variables more powerfully distinguished between the tolerant and susceptible genotypes than the physiological and biochemical variables. The PCA and cluster analysis based on the DTI revealed different levels of water deficit tolerance for the 104 genotypes. These results provide a foundation for future research directed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying potato tolerance to water deficits.

RESUMO

Water deficit or drought is one of the most severe factors limiting plant yield or fruit quality. Thus, water availability for irrigation is decisive for crop success, such as the case of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Therefore, drought stress may compromise blueberry production due to lower fruit weight or fruit yield. Despite this, it is unclear if there is any difference in the response of blueberry cultivars to water deficit, either in terms of physiological and molecular parameters, or in terms of their sensitivity or resistance to drought. In this study, we determined the effect of drought on different physiological parameters in blueberry plants (relative water content (RWC), photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), Carbon Isotopic Discrimination, and proline content) in six V. corymbosum cultivars. We also explored molecular responses in terms of gene expression coding for late embryogenesis abundant proteins. Finally, we estimated cultivar water deficit resistance using an integrative model based on physiological results. Upon water deficit conditions, we found reductions in Fv/Fm, RWC, and isotopic discrimination of 13C (Δ13C), while proline content increased significantly for all cultivars. Additionally, we also found differences in the estimated water deficit resistance index. These results indicate differences in water deficit resistance, possibly due to variations in cultivars' genetic composition.

RESUMO

This work aimed to develop a reliable and fast approach to estimate the plant tolerance degree to heavy metal (HM) phytotoxicity. Two independent experiments were carried out using tomato accessions, with contrasting morphological features, that were grown in a hydroponic solution containing different CdCl2 concentrations for 7 days. Plant dry weight and chlorophyll content (SPAD units) were evaluated, and tolerance degree to Cd toxicity was estimated according to the tolerance index (TI), which is a new mathematical formula based on plant biomass proposed in this study. Although with different magnitudes, tomato exhibited reductions in their dry weight concurrently with the increasing CdCl2 concentration. By contrast, chlorophyll content presented no standard response, decreasing and even increasing according to CdCl2 concentrations, indicating that only under certain conditions (particularly, at CdCl2 50 µM), this parameter can be used to estimate plant tolerance to Cd toxicity. TI was efficiently able to segregate tomato cultivars with similar performance (based on the total dry weight of plants), and such segregation was optimized when the hydroponic solution contained from 25 to 50 µM CdCl2. Within this range, data pointed at 35 µM CdCl2 as the best concentration to be employed in studies related to the tomato tolerance/sensitivity to Cd toxicity. In conclusion, TI proved to be a reliable estimator of tolerance degree to Cd exposure in genetically distinct tomato accessions. Moreover, TI can be used for this same purpose in plants under other HM-induced stresses.

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There is a worldwide increase of heavy metal or potentially toxic element (PTE), contamination in agricultural soils caused mainly by human and industrial action, which leads to food contamination in crops such as in maize. Cadmium (Cd) is a PTE often found in soils and it is ingested through food. It is necessary to determine the bioabsorption, distribution, and accumulation levels in maize to reduce or prevent food chain contamination. Cadmium absorption and accumulation in three maize cultivars were evaluated in three agricultural environments in Chile by increasing CdCl2 rates (0, 1, and 2 mg·kg-1). Evaluation included Cd accumulation and distribution in different plant tissues, bioaccumulation factor (BAF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and tolerance index (TI). Cadmium whole-plant uptake was only affected by the CdCl2 rate; the highest uptake was obtained with 2 mg·kg-1 CdCl2 (34.4 g·ha-1) (p < 0.05). Cadmium distribution in the maize plant usually exhibited the highest accumulation in the straw (p < 0.05), independently of the environment, Cd rate, and evaluated cultivar. Given the results for TF (TF > 2) and BAF (BAF > 1), the Los Tilos and Chillán environments were classified as having a high capacity to contaminate the food chain for all evaluated cultivars.

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Halo-tolerant, auxin producing bacteria could be used to induce salt tolerance in plants. A number of Rhizobium and auxin producing rhizobacterial strains were assessed for their ability to tolerate salt stress by conducting osmoadaptation assay. The selected strains were further screened for their ability to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean seedlings under salt-stressed axenic conditions in growth pouch/jar trials. Three most effective strains of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas containing ACC-deaminase were evaluated in combination, for their ability to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean at original, 4, and 6 dS m-1 under axenic conditions. Results showed that sole inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains improved the total dry matter up to 1.4, and 1.9 fold, respectively, while the increase in salt tolerance index was improved up to 1.3 and 2.0 fold by the Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains, respectively. However, up to 2.2 fold increase in total dry matter and salt tolerance index was observed due to combined inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains. So, combined application of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains could be explored as an effective strategy to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Halo-tolerant, auxin producing bacteria could be used to induce salt tolerance in plants. A number of Rhizobium and auxin producing rhizobacterial strains were assessed for their ability to tolerate salt stress by conducting osmoadaptation assay. The selected strains were further screened for their ability to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean seedlings under salt-stressed axenic conditions in growth pouch/jar trials. Three most effective strains of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas containing ACC-deaminase were evaluated in combination, for their ability to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean at original, 4, and 6 dS m(-1) under axenic conditions. Results showed that sole inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains improved the total dry matter up to 1.4, and 1.9 fold, respectively, while the increase in salt tolerance index was improved up to 1.3 and 2.0 fold by the Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains, respectively. However, up to 2.2 fold increase in total dry matter and salt tolerance index was observed due to combined inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains. So, combined application of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains could be explored as an effective strategy to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Halo-tolerant, auxin producing bacteria could be used to induce salt tolerance in plants. A number of Rhizobium and auxin producing rhizobacterial strains were assessed for their ability to tolerate salt stress by conducting osmoadaptation assay. The selected strains were further screened for their ability to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean seedlings under salt-stressed axenic conditions in growth pouch/jar trials. Three most effective strains of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas containing ACC-deaminase were evaluated in combination, for their ability to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean at original, 4, and 6 dS m-1 under axenic conditions. Results showed that sole inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains improved the total dry matter up to 1.4, and 1.9 fold, respectively, while the increase in salt tolerance index was improved up to 1.3 and 2.0 fold by the Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains, respectively. However, up to 2.2 fold increase in total dry matter and salt tolerance index was observed due to combined inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains. So, combined application of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains could be explored as an effective strategy to induce osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean.

RESUMO

The objective of this study was to evaluate the heat tolerance index (HTI) in 11 Suffolk and 12 Ile de France, in the summer, in Nova Odessa (22º42"S and 47º18"W), São Paulo State, Brazil. To calculate this index the rectal temperature was registered at 1 p.m. (RT1), before they spent two hours resting in the shade. Then, they were exposed to direct sun light for an hour. After one more hour in the shade, it was registered the RT2, at 3 p.m. They stayed all this time without food and water. The HTI was calculated: 10 - (RT2 - RT1). The ewes were evaluated in sunny days, without clouds and wind, before (10, 11, 12, 13/Jan/2006) and after shearing (3, 8, 15/Feb/2006). The RT data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of the SAS software package, whereby breed, time of data sampling, shearing and interaction were modeled as fixed effects, and individual animal and date of data sampling as random effects. The same procedure as above was used to analyze the ITC, using a mathematical model that included the fixed effects of breed, and shearing in addition to the random effects of individual animal and date of data sampling, modeled with a generalized linear model. Climatic variables were taken in the moment of registering the RT and the black globe and humidity index was greater than 90 for the two times. The RT of Suffolk ewes (39.31ºC) was similar to the RT of Ile de France (39

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o índice de tolerância ao calor (ITC) em 11 ovelhas da raça Suffolk e 12 Ile de France, no verão, em Nova Odessa, Estado de São Paulo. Para o cálculo do índice, foram registradas as temperaturas retais às 13 horas (TR1), após duas horas em descanso na sombra; em seguida, os animais ficaram uma hora expostos ao sol, e voltaram para a sombra, onde, então, registrou-se a TR2, às 15 horas. Durante todo esse período, ficaram sem água e comida. O índice foi calculado segundo a fórmula: 10 - (TR2 - TR1). As ovelhas foram avaliadas em 10, 11, 12, 13/01/2006, antes da tosquia, e 3, 8, 15/02/2006, após a tosquia, em dias quentes, sem nebulosidade, e com baixa velocidade do ar. A TR foi analisada com o procedimento GLIMMIX do programa SAS, e teve como efeitos fixos: raça, horário, lã (com e sem) e as interações entre esses, e como efeitos aleatórios: animal e dia dentro da interação (raça x lã). Na análise do ITC, foi utilizado o mesmo procedimento, com um modelo matemático que incluiu o efeito fixo de raça e lã, e os efeitos aleatórios de animal e dia dentro da interação (raça x lã), com a metodologia dos modelos lineares generalizados. Variáveis ambientais foram registradas nos horários de coleta da TR, e o índice de temperatura do globo negro ao sol e umidade foi, em média, superior a 90 nos dois horários observados. A TR média das ovelhas Suffolk (39

RESUMO

The objective of this study was to evaluate the heat tolerance index (HTI) in 11 Suffolk and 12 Ile de France, in the summer, in Nova Odessa (22º42"S and 47º18"W), São Paulo State, Brazil. To calculate this index the rectal temperature was registered at 1 p.m. (RT1), before they spent two hours resting in the shade. Then, they were exposed to direct sun light for an hour. After one more hour in the shade, it was registered the RT2, at 3 p.m. They stayed all this time without food and water. The HTI was calculated: 10 - (RT2 - RT1). The ewes were evaluated in sunny days, without clouds and wind, before (10, 11, 12, 13/Jan/2006) and after shearing (3, 8, 15/Feb/2006). The RT data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of the SAS software package, whereby breed, time of data sampling, shearing and interaction were modeled as fixed effects, and individual animal and date of data sampling as random effects. The same procedure as above was used to analyze the ITC, using a mathematical model that included the fixed effects of breed, and shearing in addition to the random effects of individual animal and date of data sampling, modeled with a generalized linear model. Climatic variables were taken in the moment of registering the RT and the black globe and humidity index was greater than 90 for the two times. The RT of Suffolk ewes (39.31ºC) was similar to the RT of Ile de France (39

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o índice de tolerância ao calor (ITC) em 11 ovelhas da raça Suffolk e 12 Ile de France, no verão, em Nova Odessa, Estado de São Paulo. Para o cálculo do índice, foram registradas as temperaturas retais às 13 horas (TR1), após duas horas em descanso na sombra; em seguida, os animais ficaram uma hora expostos ao sol, e voltaram para a sombra, onde, então, registrou-se a TR2, às 15 horas. Durante todo esse período, ficaram sem água e comida. O índice foi calculado segundo a fórmula: 10 - (TR2 - TR1). As ovelhas foram avaliadas em 10, 11, 12, 13/01/2006, antes da tosquia, e 3, 8, 15/02/2006, após a tosquia, em dias quentes, sem nebulosidade, e com baixa velocidade do ar. A TR foi analisada com o procedimento GLIMMIX do programa SAS, e teve como efeitos fixos: raça, horário, lã (com e sem) e as interações entre esses, e como efeitos aleatórios: animal e dia dentro da interação (raça x lã). Na análise do ITC, foi utilizado o mesmo procedimento, com um modelo matemático que incluiu o efeito fixo de raça e lã, e os efeitos aleatórios de animal e dia dentro da interação (raça x lã), com a metodologia dos modelos lineares generalizados. Variáveis ambientais foram registradas nos horários de coleta da TR, e o índice de temperatura do globo negro ao sol e umidade foi, em média, superior a 90 nos dois horários observados. A TR média das ovelhas Suffolk (39