This thesis is based on three inter-related studies: the first part deals with the microbial consortium, the identification of microbes and their volatiles, the second part deals with the study of bio-chemical control methods of two conifer pests; the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) and the root rot fungi Heterobasidion spp., and the third part describes the production of styrene by a fungus using forest waste.The large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) is an economically important pest insect of conifers in reforestation areas of Europe and Asia. The female weevils protect their eggs from feeding conspecifics by adding frass (mixture of weevil feces and chewed bark) along with the eggs. In order to understand the mechanism behind frass deposition at the egg laying site and to find repellents/antifeedants for pine weevils, microbes were isolated from the aseptically collected pine weevil frass. Microbial produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected by solid phase micro extraction and analyzed by GC-MS after cultivating them on weevil frass broth. The major VOCs were tested against pine weevils using a multi-choice olfactometer. Ewingella sp., Mucor racemosus, Penicillium solitum, P. expansum, Ophiostoma piceae, O. pluriannulatum, Debaryomyces hansenii and Candida sequanensis were identified as abundant microbes. Styrene, 6-protoilludene, 1-octene-3-ol, 3-methylanisole, methyl salicylate, 2-methoxyphenol and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol were the VOCs of persistently isolated microbes. In behavioral bioassay, methyl salicylate, 3-methylanisole and styrene significantly reduced the attraction of pine weevils to their host plant volatiles. Heterobasidion spp. are severe pathogenic fungi of conifers that cause root and butt rot in plants. Bacterial isolates were tested for the antagonistic activity against fungi on potato dextrose agar. Bacillus subtilis strains significantly inhibited the growth of H. annosum and H. parviporum. Styrene is an industrial chemical used for making polymeric products, currently produced from fossil fuel. A strain of Penicillium expansum isolated from pine weevil frass was investigated for the production of styrene using forest waste. Grated pine stem bark and mature oak bark supplemented with yeast extract produced greater amounts of styrene compared to potato dextrose broth. / <p>QC 20130507</p>

O setor florestal apresenta impacto na economia do Brasil, com valores significativos no PIB, em exportações e geração de empregos. O país possui cerca de 7,74 milhões de hectares de florestas plantadas, o que corresponde a apenas 0,9% do território nacional. Os plantios podem ser realizados em áreas novas ou em áreas que já possuíam eucalipto no ciclo anterior. Neste caso, os tocos remanescentes representam um problema, dificultando o tráfego homogêneo de máquinas e influindo na qualidade das operações florestais. O aproveitamento dos resíduos, por meio da retirada dos tocos remanescentes, pode contribuir para minimizar esses problemas, trazendo benefícios econômicos e energéticos. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em analisar a viabilidade operacional, econômica e energética de um sistema mecanizado florestal para o aproveitamento de resíduos florestais (toco). Para tanto, um modelo, em planilha eletrônica, foi desenvolvido. Os dados referentes à capacidade de trabalho dos equipamentos envolvidos foram obtidos por meio de um estudo de tempos e movimentos das operações mecanizadas de destoca, baldeio, processamento e transporte. O modelo foi empregado para avaliação de cenários e identificar variáveis críticas. Os resultados evidenciaram que o sistema mecanizado empregado para a destoca e retirada dos resíduos, tocos e raízes, é viável operacional e economicamente e tem um desempenho energético favorável. As restrições do uso desse sistema referem-se à área mínima e a distância de transporte, e que as variações na produtividade, no preço de venda da biomassa e na capacidade de campo operacional impactam sensivelmente na viabilidade econômica do projeto. / The forest sector plays an important role in Brazil\'s economy, with significant share in the GDP, exports and job creation. Brazil has about 7.74 million ha of planted forests, accounting for only 0.9% of the national territory. Plantations may occur in new areas or in areas that already had a previous eucalypt cycle. In this case, the remaining stumps represent a problem hindering the smooth traffic of machinery and affecting forest operations. The use of waste by removing the remaining stumps can help to minimize these problems, bringing economic and energy benefits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the operational, economic and energy viability of a mechanized-harvest forest system for the use of forest waste (stumps). To this end, a model was developed in spreadsheet. The data related to the work capacity of the equipment involved were obtained by means of a time and motion study of mechanized operations of stumps removal, carrying, processing and transportation. The model was used to evaluate scenarios and identify critical variables. The results showed that the mechanized system used for stumps removal, stumps and roots, is operationally and economically viable and has a favorable energy performance. Restrictions of using this system refers to the minimum area and distance of transport. In addition, variations in productivity, selling price of biomass and field operational capacity significantly affect the economic viability of the project.

O setor florestal apresenta impacto na economia do Brasil, com valores significativos no PIB, em exportações e geração de empregos. O país possui cerca de 7,74 milhões de hectares de florestas plantadas, o que corresponde a apenas 0,9% do território nacional. Os plantios podem ser realizados em áreas novas ou em áreas que já possuíam eucalipto no ciclo anterior. Neste caso, os tocos remanescentes representam um problema, dificultando o tráfego homogêneo de máquinas e influindo na qualidade das operações florestais. O aproveitamento dos resíduos, por meio da retirada dos tocos remanescentes, pode contribuir para minimizar esses problemas, trazendo benefícios econômicos e energéticos. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em analisar a viabilidade operacional, econômica e energética de um sistema mecanizado florestal para o aproveitamento de resíduos florestais (toco). Para tanto, um modelo, em planilha eletrônica, foi desenvolvido. Os dados referentes à capacidade de trabalho dos equipamentos envolvidos foram obtidos por meio de um estudo de tempos e movimentos das operações mecanizadas de destoca, baldeio, processamento e transporte. O modelo foi empregado para avaliação de cenários e identificar variáveis críticas. Os resultados evidenciaram que o sistema mecanizado empregado para a destoca e retirada dos resíduos, tocos e raízes, é viável operacional e economicamente e tem um desempenho energético favorável. As restrições do uso desse sistema referem-se à área mínima e a distância de transporte, e que as variações na produtividade, no preço de venda da biomassa e na capacidade de campo operacional impactam sensivelmente na viabilidade econômica do projeto. / The forest sector plays an important role in Brazil\'s economy, with significant share in the GDP, exports and job creation. Brazil has about 7.74 million ha of planted forests, accounting for only 0.9% of the national territory. Plantations may occur in new areas or in areas that already had a previous eucalypt cycle. In this case, the remaining stumps represent a problem hindering the smooth traffic of machinery and affecting forest operations. The use of waste by removing the remaining stumps can help to minimize these problems, bringing economic and energy benefits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the operational, economic and energy viability of a mechanized-harvest forest system for the use of forest waste (stumps). To this end, a model was developed in spreadsheet. The data related to the work capacity of the equipment involved were obtained by means of a time and motion study of mechanized operations of stumps removal, carrying, processing and transportation. The model was used to evaluate scenarios and identify critical variables. The results showed that the mechanized system used for stumps removal, stumps and roots, is operationally and economically viable and has a favorable energy performance. Restrictions of using this system refers to the minimum area and distance of transport. In addition, variations in productivity, selling price of biomass and field operational capacity significantly affect the economic viability of the project.