The exopolysaccharides with characteristics of gel produced by Rhizobium tropici (EPS RT) and Mesorhizobium sp (EPS MR) are acidic heteropolysaccharide composed mainly of glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 4:1 and 5:1 respectively, with traces of mannose (~ 1%). Chemical analysis showed the presence of uronic acid, pyruvate and acetyl-substituents in the structures of both polymers. Experiments of gel permeation chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that EPS RT and EPS MR are homogeneous molecules with low grade of polydispersity. The EPS were characterized using spectroscopic techniques of FT-IR, ¹H and 13C-NMR.

Estudos sobre a atividade microbiológica que ocorre na rizosfera de diversos vegetais levaram ao descobrimento de grupos de microrganismos importantes para o desenvolvimento vegetal. Dentre eles estão as rizobactérias que são capazes de colonizar as raízes, estimulando-a diretamente ou beneficiando o crescimento e o desenvolvimento de diversas plantas. Estas bactérias são chamadas Rizobactérias Promotoras de Crescimento em Plantas (RPCP). Este trabalho teve o objetivo de isolar, identificar, testar a capacidade da solubilização de fosfato e a produção de ácido indol acético (AIA) de bactérias que habitam a rizosfera de plantas de milho. A análise parcial do gene 16S rRNA dos 58 isolados possibilitou a identificação dos gêneros, Bacillus, Burkholderia e Azospirillum, sendo os mais frequentes totalizando 68% dos isolados, seguidos de Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Herbaspirillum, Pantoea , Bosea. Desses, 27 apresentaram a capacidade de solubilização do fosfato e 18 foram positivos no teste colorimétrico para detecção de produção do AIA. A partir destes resultados, selecionou-se um organismo pertencente ao gênero Sphingomonas para ser testado em casa de vegetação como promotor de crescimento com as estirpes de Azospirillum brasilense (AbV5 e AbV6). As plantas foram avaliadas quanto à altura aos vinte e setenta dias após a germinação e a massa seca da parte aérea (MSPA)e parte radicular (MSPR) foi quantificada após setenta dias no encerramento do experimento. Os resultados das análises do isolado pertencente ao gênero Sphingomonas foram estatisticamente semelhantes às estirpes AbV5 e AbV6 na planta de milho indicando que este microrganismo possui potencial para ser utilizado como RPCP

Researches about microbiological activity on many plants rizosphere led to the discovery of groups of important microrganisms for plants development. Among them there are the rizobacteria able to colonize the roots, stimulating directly or benefiting many plants. These bacteria are called Growth Promoting Rizobacteria or GPR. In view of this, the present study was performed, aiming to isolate, identify and test phosphate solubilization and acetic indol acid (AIA) production in bacteria that lives in maize roots. The partial analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the 58 isolates enabled the identification of the genres Bacillus, Burkholderia and Azospirillum, and the most frequent totaling 86% of the isolates, followed by Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Herbaspirillum, Pantoea and Bosea. Out of the 58 isolates, 27 showed the capacity of phosphate solubilization and 18 were positive to the AIA production colorimetric detection test. From these results was chosen an organism belonging to the genre Sphingomonas to be tested at greenhouse as growth promoter with the strains Azospirillum brasiliense (AbV5 e AbV6). The plants were assessed twenty and seventy days after germination. Dry mass of shoot and root parts were quantified after seventy days at the end of the experiment. Statistical analysis indicated by the program Statistix v.9.0 showed that the isolates belonging to the genre Sphingomonas presented similar results as shown by strains AbV5 and AbV6 on maize plant. This microorganism may become a promising one to be used as a GPR

Viscosity of some polysaccharide solutions supports that these molecules can be applied in food sectors. Four exopolysaccharides (R1, R2, R3, R4) produced by different Rhizobium strains were selected. Sugar composition and differences in the uronic acid contents suggests that chemical structure of these molecules can vary when different culture conditions and strains are analyzed. The Power Law was the rheological model used to represent the experimental data of shear stress versus shear rate. All exopolysaccharides showed non-Newtonian behavior, with pseudoplastic characteristics. R1, R2 and R4 showed a slight increase in viscosity in the presence of 0,2 M NaCl.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a caracterização genética de quatro novas estirpes de Rhizobium e a avaliação de sua capacidade de fixação de N2 e nodulação, comparadas a estirpes comerciais e à população nativa de rizóbios de um Latossolo Vermelho. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos em blocos ao acaso, em casa de vegetação. No primeiro experimento, conduzido em tubetes com vermiculita, avaliaram-se a nodulação e a capacidade de fixação das novas estirpes, em comparação com as estirpes comerciais CIAT-899 e PRF-81 e com a população nativa do solo. Das colônias puras isoladas, extraiu-se o DNA genômico e realizou-se o seqüenciamento do espaço intergênico, para a caracterização genética das estirpes e da população nativa de rizóbios. O segundo experimento foi realizado em vasos com solo, para determinação da produtividade e da nodulação do feijoeiro, cultivar Pérola, com o uso das estirpes isoladamente ou em mistura com a PRF-81. A população nativa do solo foi identificada como Rhizobium sp. e se mostrou ineficiente na fixação de nitrogênio. Foram encontradas três espécies de Rhizobium entre as quatro novas estirpes. As estirpes LBMP-4BR e LBMP-12BR estão entre as que têm maior capacidade de nodulação e fixação de N2, e apresentam respostas diferenciadas quando misturadas à PRF-81.

This study aimed to genetically characterize four new Rhizobium strains, and to evaluate their nodulation and fixation capacity compared to commercial strains and to native rhizobia population of a Brazilian Rhodic Hapludox. Two experiments were carried out in randomized blocks design, under greenhouse conditions, in 2007. In the first experiment, the nodulation and nitrogen fixation capacity of new strains were evaluated, in comparison to the commercial strains CIAT-899 and PRF-81 and to native soil population. It was carried out in plastic tubes filled with vermiculite. DNA extractions and PCR sequencing of the intergenic space were made from the isolated pure colonies, in order to genetically characterize the strains and the native rhizobia population. In the second experiment, the nodulation and productivity of common beans Perola cultivar were determined, with the use of evaluated strains, alone or in mixture with PRF-81 strain. It was carried out in pots filled with soil. The native soil population was identified as Rhizobium sp. and was inefficient in nitrogen fixation. Three different Rhizobium species were found among the four new strains. The LBMP-4BR and LBMP-12BR new strains are among the ones with greatest nodulation and fixation capacity and exhibit differential responses when mixed to PRF-81.