Resumo: A interação simbiótica entre fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) e 70-90% das espécies de plantas é amplamente estudada, mas fungos ectomicorrízicos, Piriformospora indica, Trichoderma sp. e “dark septate” endofíticos (DSE), também estabelecem interações benéficas com as plantas. Apesar disso, a discussão conjunta dos aspectos bioquímicos, fisiológicos e moleculares da transferência de nutrientes, principalmente do micélio extrarradicular (ERM) para a planta, ainda é limitada. O objetivo deste artigo de revisão é apresentar abordagens bioquímicas, fisiológicas e moleculares da interação planta-FMA, bem como analisar a resposta da planta à inoculação com diferentes fungos promotores de crescimento. Aqui se destacam as características de H+-ATPases e de transportadores de NH4+ e H2PO4- envolvidos com a absorção de fósforo e nitrogênio pelo solo através do ERM de FMA, assim como os aspectos bioquímicos do metabolismo de ambos os nutrientes no ERM e as suas translocações do ERM para o micélio intrarradicular e para a planta hospedeira. Finalmente, apresenta-se a eficiência de aproveitamento de fertilizantes nitrogenados em plantas com inoculação de FMA, Trichoderma sp., P. indica e fungos DSE. Ao se examinar, conjuntamente, os aspectos bioquímicos, fisiológicos e moleculares da interação planta-FMA e a eficiência de aproveitamento de fertilizantes nitrogenados em plantas inoculadas, é possível concluir que a agricultura de baixo uso de insumos poderia ser alcançada com o emprego desses fungos nos agrossistemas.

Abstract: The symbiotic interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and 70-90% of the plant species is largely studied, but ectomycorrhizal fungi, Piriformospora indica, Trichoderma sp., and dark septate endophytes (DSE), also establish beneficial interactions with plants. Despite this, the joint discussion on the biochemical, physiological, and molecular aspects of nutrient transfer, mainly from the extraradical mycelium (ERM) to the plant, is still limited. The objective of this review is to present biochemical, physiological, and molecular approaches to the plant-AMF interaction, as well as to analyze the response of plants to inoculations with different growth-promoting fungi. Here, are highlighted the characteristics of the H+-ATPases and of the transporters of NH4+ and H2PO4- involved in the absorption of phosphorus and nitrogen by the soil through the ERM of the AMF, besides the biochemical aspects of the metabolism of both nutrients in the ERM and their translocations from the ERM to the intraradical mycelium and to the host plant. Finally, the nitrogen fertilizer recovery efficiency in plants inoculated with AMF, Trichoderma sp., P.indica, and DSE fungi is presented. By examining, together, the biochemical, physiological, and molecular aspects of the plant-AMF interaction and the nitrogen fertilizer recovery efficiency in inoculated plants, it is possible to conclude that a low-input agriculture could be achieved with the use of these fungi in agrosystems.

RESUMO: Para quantificar a FBN em leguminosas, através da técnica de abundância natural de 15N, é importante conhecer a abundância de 15N da planta leguminosa crescida inteiramente dependente da FBN (valor ‘B’). O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a abundância natural de 15N do N2 fixado por diferentes estirpes de Bradyrhizobium em simbiose com uma cultivar de soja. Os tratamentos consistiram de plantas cultivadas sem e com inoculação com dez estirpes de Bradyrhizobium, em cinco repetições. Foram utilizados vasos de Leonard, substrato de areia e vermiculita. As plantas foram colhidas após 46 dias. Os valores de ‘B’ parte aérea (‘Bpa’) variaram entre -2.6 to -3.9 ‰. Houve tendência para a abundância de 15N dos valores de ‘Bpa’ das plantas inoculadas com estirpes de B. elkanii a serem mais negativos que as plantas inoculadas com as outras estirpes. Todos os valores de ‘B’ da planta inteira foram menos de 1 unidade de δ 15N (‰) diferente de zero, sugerindo que as simbioses têm pouca tendência de mostrar fracionamento isotópico significativo, mas houve considerável empobrecimento do isótopo 15N no N translocado a parte aérea.

ABSTRACT: To quantify the BNF contribution to legumes using the 15N natural abundance technique, it is important to know the abundance of 15N of the plants grown entirely dependent on BNF (value ‘B’). The aim of the study was to determine the 15N natural abundance of N2 fixed by different Bradyrhizobium strains in symbiosis with one soybean cultivar. Treatments consisted of soybean plants cultivated with and without inoculation with ten Bradyrhizobium strains, in five replicates planted in Leonard jars in a sand/vermiculite mixture. Plants were harvested after 46 days. The ‘B’ values of the aerial tissue (‘Bs’) ranged from -2.6 to -3.9 ‰. There was a tendency for the ‘Bs’ values of plants inoculated with strains of B. elkanii to be more negative than plants inoculated with other strains. All ‘B’ values of the whole plant were less than 1 unit of δ15N (‰) different from zero, suggesting that the symbioses have little tendency to show significant isotopic fractionation during N2 fixation, but there is considerable depletion in 15N of the N translocated to the shoot tissue.

ABSTRACT The use of dark septate fungi (DSE) to promote plant growth can be beneficial to agriculture, and these organisms are important allies in the search for sustainable agriculture practices. This study investigates the contribution of dark septate fungi to the absorption of nutrients by rice plants and their ensuing growth. Four dark septate fungi isolates that were identified by Internal transcribed spacer phylogeny were inoculated in rice seeds (Cv. Piauí). The resulting root colonization was estimated and the kinetic parameters Vmax and Km were calculated from the nitrate contents of the nutrient solution. The macronutrient levels in the shoots, and the NO3--N, NH4+-N, free amino-N and soluble sugars in the roots, sheathes and leaves were measured. The rice roots were significantly colonized by all of the fungi, but in particular, isolate A103 increased the fresh and dry biomass of the shoots and the number of tillers per plant, amino-N, and soluble sugars as well as the N, P, K, Mg and S contents in comparison with the control treatment. When inoculated with isolates A103 and A101, the plants presented lower Km values, indicating affinity increases for NO3--N absorption. Therefore, the A103 Pleosporales fungus presented the highest potential for the promotion of rice plant growth, increasing the tillering and nutrients uptake, especially N (due to an enhanced affinity for N uptake) and P.