L’architecture du système racinaire des légumineuses est déterminée par la croissance des racines et leur capacité à former des racines latérales et des nodosités symbiotiques fixatrices d’azote en fonction des conditions environnementales. Chez la légumineuse modèle Medicago truncatula, nous avons mis en évidence que les phytohormones gibbérellines (GAs) et leur voie de signalisation – médiée par trois protéines MtDELLAs présentant des profils d’expression redondants – jouent un rôle clé dans la régulation du développement du système racinaire. En conditions non-symbiotiques, les GAs régulent négativement la croissance racinaire en réprimant l’activité méristématique et l’élongation cellulaire, et inhibent la formation des racines latérales. En conditions symbiotiques, le rôle des GAs et de leur voie de signalisation est double : au niveau de l’épiderme, les protéines MtDELLAs régulent positivement l’infection par les bactéries symbiotiques Rhizobia en interagissant de façon directe avec la voie de signalisation des facteurs Nod bactériens. Au niveau du cortex, les GAs régulent négativement l’organogénèse des nodosités. Les phytohormones cytokinines (CKs) et leur récepteur MtCRE1 étant essentiels pour initier la nodulation, l’interaction entre les voies de signalisation GA et CK a été analysée en parallèle. Les CKs régulent le niveau de GAs bioactives en modulant l’expression des gènes de leur métabolisme de manière dépendante du récepteur aux CKs MtCRE1. Réciproquement, les GAs régulent les gènes du métabolisme CK et le niveau de CKs bioactives de manière dépendante des MtDELLAs. Par ailleurs, une forme activée de MtDELLA complémente partiellement le phénotype de nodulation du mutant cre1 et lie le promoteur de MtCRE1, indiquant que les voies de signalisation GA et CK régulent la nodulation en étroite association. / Legume root system architecture is determined by both root growth and their ability to form lateral roots and nitrogen-fixing symbiotic nodules, depending on environmental soil conditions. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, we have shown that the phytohormones gibberellins (GAs) and their signaling – involving three MtDELLA proteins with redundant expression patterns – play a crucial role in the regulation of the root system development. In non-symbiotic conditions, GAs negatively regulate root growth through the repression of meristematic activity and cell elongation, and inhibit lateral root formation. In symbiotic conditions, GA and their signaling pathway play a dual role: in the root epidermis, MtDELLA proteins positively regulate infection by symbiotic bacteria Rhizobia, by directly interacting with the bacterial Nod factor signaling pathway. In the root cortex, GAs negatively regulate nodule organogenesis. The phytohormones cytokinins (CKs) and their receptor MtCRE1 being essential for the initiation of nodulation, we additionally analyzed the crosstalk between GA and CK signaling. CKs regulate the bioactive GA pool, controlling the expression of GA-metabolic genes, depending on the MtCRE1 receptor. In turn, GAs regulate CK-metabolic genes and the bioactive CK pool, depending on MtDELLAs. In addition, a dominant version of a MtDELLA partially complements the nodulation phenotype of the cre1 mutant and binds to the MtCRE1 promoter. These results indicate that GA and CK signaling pathways closely interact to regulate nodulation.

Nitrogen (N)-fixing trees can both mitigate climate change, by relieving N limitation of plant growth which promotes carbon dioxide (CO²) sequestration in plant biomass, and exacerbate climate change, by stimulating nitrification and denitrification which promotes nitrous oxide (N²O) emissions from soils. The balance between the negative radiative forcing (CO² sequestration in plant biomass) and positive radiative forcing (N²O emissions from soils) of N-fixing trees is unresolved. In this thesis I use a sequence of theoretical and empirical approaches to investigate the influence of N-fixing trees on CO² sequestration by forests and N²O emissions from forest soils, i.e., the net CO²-N²O effect of forests. The first chapter establishes a basis for the N²O effect of N-fixing trees with a meta-analysis, to accompany existing meta-analyses of the CO² effect of N-fixing trees. Chapter one demonstrates that N- fixing trees significantly increase N²O emissions from forest soils relative to non-fixing trees. The second chapter explores the controls and potential global importance of the net CO²-N²O effect of N-fixing trees using a theoretical ecosystem model. The third chapter explores the net CO²-N²O effect of N-fixing trees under manipulations of these controls with a field experiment paired with a modified version of the theoretical ecosystem model from the second chapter. Together, chapters two and three suggest that the net CO²-N²O effect of N-fixing trees is controlled by N limitation of plant growth and the extent to which N-fixing trees can regulate N fixation: N-fixing trees mitigate climate change relative to non-fixing trees under N limitation of plant growth, but N-fixing trees that cannot regulate N fixation exacerbate climate change relative to non-fixing trees under non-N limitation of plant growth. The fourth chapter represents the ecological mechanisms studied in chapters one, two and three in a land model: LM4.1-BNF is a novel representation of biological N fixation (BNF) and an updated representation of N cycling in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Land Model 4.1 (LM4.1). LM4.1-BNF includes a mechanistic representation of asymbiotic BNF by soil microbes, the competitive dynamics between N-fixing and non-fixing plants, N limitation of plant growth, and N2O emissions from soils. Together these chapters elucidate the influence of N-fixing trees on the capacity of forests to mitigate and exacerbate climate change and establish a framework to analyse and project the trajectory of the net CO²-N²O effect of forests under global change.

En cas de carence azotée, les légumineuses sont capables de mettre en place une symbiose avec des bactéries du sol fixatrices d’azote appelées rhizobia. Cette symbiose a lieu dans un organe appelé nodosité où les bactéries sont endocytées et appelées bactéroïdes. Certains clades de légumineuses imposent un processus de différenciation à leurs bactéroïdes qui agrandissent considérablement et deviennent polyploïdes, menant à des morphotypes bactériens allongés ou sphériques. Au cours de cette thèse, j’ai étudié la différenciation des bactéroïdes de Bradyrhizobium spp. en association avec Aeschynomene spp.. Les bactéroïdes de ces plantes présentent des degrés de différenciation distincts qui dépendent de l’espèce hôte. Mes données suggèrent que les bactéroïdes les plus différenciés sont aussi les plus efficaces. J’ai cherché à savoir quels facteurs procaryotes pourraient être impliqués dans les adaptations des bactéroïdes au processus de différenciation et à leurs divers hôtes, le tout en lien avec cette différence d’efficacité symbiotique au travers d’approches globales sans a priori de type -omiques. Les conditions considérées sont des bactéroïdes de différents morphotypes et des cultures libres de référence. Les fonctions activées en conditions symbiotiques ont été identifiées, ainsi que les gènes spécifiques d’un hôte donné. Des analyses fonctionnelles des gènes d’intérêt ont également été menées. Les mutants bactériens n’ont toutefois pas présenté de phénotype symbiotique drastique, montrant ainsi l’existence de réseaux de gènes complexes menant à la résilience des génomes de rhizobia. / In case of nitrogen starvation, legume plants establish a symbiotic interaction with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria called rhizobia. This interaction takes place in nodules where the symbionts are internalized and become bacteroids. Some legume clades also impose a differentiation process onto the bacteroids which become enlarged and polyploid, leading to elongated or spherical morphotypes. During my PhD work, I have studied bacteroid differentiation of Bradyrhizobium species in association with Aeschynomene spp.. These bacteroids display distinct differentiation levels depending on the plant host, and my analyses suggest that the most differentiated ones are also the most efficient. I investigated the bacterial factors potentially involved in the adaptations to differentiation and host-specificity, and related to the higher efficiency of the most differentiated bacteroids using global-omics approaches without a priori. The analyzed conditions were bacteroids of distinct morphotypes and free-living reference cultures. Activated functions under symbiotic conditions were identified, as well as host-specific ones. Functional analyses were performed on genes of interest. However, the bacterial mutants did not display drastic symbiotic phenotypes, showing the existence of complex gene networks leading to high resilience of rhizobial genomes.

The nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are used widely for producing of microbiological fertilizers. This study aims to seek nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria strains to add to the collection of candidate strains for producing single and multi-function microbiological fertilizers. From 40 soil samples of 8 fields for cultivating rice, medicinal plants and vegetables, 15 NFB strains and 12 PSB strains were isolated and determined the ability of fixing nitrogen and solubilizing inorganic phosphate compound through creation of NH₄⁺ and PO₄⁻ in culture medium. Among 15 NFB strains, the fixing nitrogen activities of 7 strains were much higher than the remaining strains, including NFBR3, NFBV2, NFBM5, NFBM3, NFBM1, NFBV5 and NFBR2 with NH₄⁺ concentration 18.85 mg/l, 18.41 mg/l, 17.32 mg/l, 16.19 mg/l, 15.49 mg/l, 12.83 mg/l and 12.57 mg/l, respectively Among 12 PSB strains, The ability of solubilizing phosphate of 5 strains were higher than the others, including PSBM2, PSBR1, PSBV1, PSBR5 and PSBR3 with PO₄⁻ concentration 14.49 mg/l, 11.83 mg/l, 11.33 mg/l, 10.65 mg/l, 10.37 mg/l, respectively. 3 NFB strains (NFBR3, NFBV2, NFBM5) and 3 PSB strains (PSBM2, PSBR1, PSBV1) with higher activity were identified by 16S-rDNA sequence analysis and comparing to some homologous sequences in genbank. The results showed that NFBR3 was identified as Azotobacter vinelandii, NFBV2 as Azopirillum brasilense, NFBM5 as Azotobacter chroococum, PSBM2 and PSBV1 as Pseudomonas fluorescens and PSBR1 as Bacillus subtilis. / Vi khuẩn cố định nitơ (NFB) và vi khuẩn phân giải phosphate (PSB) được sử dụng rộng rãi trong sản xuất phân bón vi sinh. Nghiên cứu này nhằm mục đích tìm kiếm các chủng vi khuẩn cố định nitơ và hòa tan phosphate, bổ sung vào bộ sưu tập các chủng dự tuyển cho sản xuất phân bón vi sinh đơn và đa chức năng. Từ 40 mẫu đất của 8 ruộng trồng lúa, cây dược liệu và rau màu, 15 chủng NFB và 12 chủng PSB đã được phân lập và xác định khả năng cố định nitơ và phân giải phosphate vô cơ thông qua sự tạo thành NH₄⁺ và PO₄⁻ trong môi trường nuôi cấy. Trong số 15 chủng NFB, có 7 chủng có hoạt tính cố định nitơ cao hơn những chủng còn lại, bao gồm các chủng NFBR3, NFBV2, NFBM5, NFBM3, NFBM1, NFBV5 và NFBR2 với nồng độ NH₄⁺ lần lượt là 18.85mg/l, 18.41 mg/l, 17.32 mg/l, 16.19 mg/l, 15.49 mg/l, 12.83 mg/l và 12.5 7mg/l. Trong số 12, có 5 chủng có khả năng phân giải phosphate cao hơn những chủng khác, bao gồm chủng PSBM2, PSBR1, PSBV1, PSBR5 và PSBR3 với nồng độ PO₄⁻ lần lượt là 14.49 mg/l, 11.83 mg/l, 11.33 mg/l, 10.65 mg/l và 10.37 mg/l. Các chủng NFB và PSB này đều xuất hiện ơ các mẫu đất trồng lúa, đất trồng cây dược liệu và đất trồng rau màu. 3 chủng NFB và 3 chủng PSB với hoạt tính cố định nitơ và phân giải phosphate cao hơn được định loại bằng phân tích trình tự gen 16S-rDNA và so sánh với một số trình tự tương đồng trong genebank. Kết quả chỉ ra rằng chủng NFBR3 được định danh là Azotobacter vinelandii, chủng NFBV2 là Azopirillum brasilense, chủng NFBM5 là Azotobacter chroococum, chủng PSBM2 và chủng PSBV1 là Pseudomonas fluorescens và chủng PSBR1 là Bacillus subtilis.

Vast amounts of carbon are stored forest soils, a product of decaying organic matter. Increased CO2 in the atmosphere is predicted to lead to increasing global temperatures, and more extreme moisture regimes. Such increases in mean temperature could accelerate the rate of organic matter decay in soils and lead to additional release of CO2 into the atmosphere, thus exacerbating climate change. However, due to its impact on plant metabolism, high atmospheric CO2 concentrations may also lead to greater condensed tannins (CT) and reduced nitrogen (N) content in leaf litter. This reduction in litter quality has the potential to slow decay of organic matter in soil and therefore offset the accelerated decay resulting from a warmer climate. My research aimed to quantify the effects of climate and litter chemistry, specifically CT and N, on litter decay, N mineralization and associated microbes in the field. Strings of litterbags were laid on the forest floor along climate transects of mature Douglas-fir stands of coastal British Columbia rain-shadow forests. In-situ climate was monitored alongside carbon and nitrogen loss over 3.58 years of decay along three transects located at different latitudes, each transect spanning the coastal Western Hemlock and Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zones. Microbial communities in the decaying litter and in forest soils were also analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Microbial biogeography at field sites was partially influenced by climate, soil characteristics and spatial distance, but did not improve best fit decay models using climate and litter chemistry variables. Litter with greater initial CT and smaller N concentration slowed down early decay (0 - 0.58 yr) and net N mineralization. Warmer temperatures accelerated later decay (0.58 - 3.58 yr) and net N mineralization. Water-soluble CT were rapidly lost during decay, while other forms of CT were likely responsible for slower decay. The composition of fungal communities on decaying litter was affected by initial concentrations of CT and N. On a yearly basis, the slower decay of litter with high CT and reduced N content can offset accelerated rates of decay associated with warmer temperatures. Concurrent shifts in microbial communities and net N mineralization suggest potential benefits to trees. / Graduate / 2017-12-19

L'azote est essentiel au développement de toutes les cellules vivantes. Il est un des facteurs limitant de la croissance végétale. La seule source d'azote abondante est l'atmosphère contenant 80 % de diazote mais cette forme n'est assimilable que par certains procaryotes. Ces microorganismes sont capables de fixer l'azote atmosphérique sous leur forme libre ou en symbiose avec des plantes. Ainsi, ils fournissent à leur plante partenaire des substrats azotés, sous forme d'ammoniaque, tandis qu'en retour celle-ci fournit à la bactérie des substrats carbonés issus de sa photosynthèse. Il s'agit d'une association à bénéfices réciproques. Il existe deux grands types de symbiose fixatrice d'azote : la symbiose rhizobienne, impliquant diverses Protéobactéries et la symbiose actinorhizienne impliquant une Actinobactérie, Frankia. Les bactéries pénètrent les cellules des plantes pour former un nouvel organe, la nodosité dans laquelle va avoir lieu la fixation d'azote. Les bases moléculaires à l'origine de la symbiose rhizobienne sont très bien caractérisées tandis que celles de la symbiose actinorhizienne restent en grande partie inconnue, de par l'absence d'outils génétiques. Toutefois, les premières étapes de mise en place de la symbiose présentent des similarités. Les deux bactéries sont capables d'induire la déformation du poil racinaire en sécrétant un facteur déformant, le facteur Nod pour la plupart des symbioses rhizobiennes et un facteur encore non caractérisé dans le cas de la symbiose actinorhizienne. La problématique de mes travaux de thèse est de savoir si le dialogue moléculaire s'établissant entre la plante et la bactérie est basé sur des composants universels. Ce travail a utilisé deux approches. Une approche ciblée visait à mettre en évidence la fonction. Une approche non-ciblée par le biais des puces transcriptomiques chez Frankia a permis de comparer l'expression génétique entre des conditions de vie libre et des conditions de vie symbiotique. Enfin, une dernière approche a concerné les composés aromatiques chez Frankia. Il s'agissait d'établir si Frankia était capable de cataboliser différents composés aromatiques. En effet, beaucoup d'entre eux sont impliqués dans les interactions plante-bactérie, notamment dans les réactions de défense de la plante / Nitrogen is essential for cells development. It's one of the limiting factors of plant growth. The only abundant source of this component is the atmosphere which contains 80 % of dinitrogen, but this form can only be assimilated by some prokaryotes. These microorganisms are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen under freeliving condition or in symbiosis with some plants. Thus, they provide nitrogen substrates to the plant in the form of ammonium, and in return the plant provides carbon substrates from photosynthesis. It is an association with reciprocal profits for both partners. There are two major nitrogen-fixing symbioses: rhizobial symbiosis, which involves various Proteobacteria and actinorhizal symbiosis, which involves the Actinobacterium, Frankia. Bacteria enter plant root cells and develop a new organ, the nodule where nitrogen fixation takes place. Molecular bases are well characterized for rhizobial symbiosis, whereas little is known about the actinorhizal symbiosis. This fact is in part due to absence of genetic tools for Frankia. However, early steps of the interaction show some similarities. These two bacteria are able to induce root hair deformation by secreting a deforming factor, Nod factor in most rhizobial symbioses and a noncharacterized factor in the actinorhizal symbiosis. The aim of this thesis was to determine if molecular dialogue between plant and bacteria is based on universal components. This work used two approaches. One was targeted on nodC-like gene from Frankia alni ACN14a. We tried to characterize their function. Another used trancriptomic microarrays in Frankia. This technique allowed us to compare transcripts from 2 conditions: free-living cells and symbiosis. A last approach focused on aromatic compounds in Frankia. We wanted to determine if Frankia was able to use different aromatic compounds to grow. Indeed, a lot of aromatic compounds are involved in plant-bacteria interaction such as plant defense

A soja, [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] é uma das espécies com maior teor protéico, contendo cerca de 40% de proteína nos grãos. Em conseqüência disso demanda alta quantidade de nitrogênio (N), o qual pode ser suprido pelo processo de fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN), através da simbiose com as bactérias do gênero Bradyrhizobium. No Brasil, a FBN é capaz de suprir toda a demanda de N da cultura da soja, dispensando a aplicação de fertilizantes nitrogenados. No entanto, os caracteres relacionados à FBN não têm sido diretamente considerados em programas de melhoramento genético, em função das dificuldades inerentes às avaliações dos mesmos, que requerem a destruição das plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi mapear os locos de caracteres quantitativos (Quantitative Trait Loci: QTLs) dos caracteres relacionados à FBN, visando identificar associações úteis para a seleção assistida por marcadores, bem como obter outras informações sobre a base genética destes caracteres em soja. Uma população composta de 157 F2:7 linhagens endogâmicas recombinantes (Recombinant Inbred Lines RILs), derivada de um cruzamento biparental, foi genotipada com 105 marcadores microssatélites, bem como avaliada para os seguintes caracteres relacionados com a FBN: número de nódulos (NN); peso seco dos nódulos (MNS); peso médio dos nódulos secos (MNS/NN) e peso seco da parte aérea (MPAS). Utilizando o método de mapeamento por intervalo composto para múltiplas características (mCIM) foram mapeados os QTLs para os quatro caracteres. Um mapa genético foi construído com um tamanho estimado em 1.263,2 cM, correspondendo a uma cobertura de 50% do genoma. Oito regiões genômicas foram associadas com os caracteres de FBN. Quatro dessas regiões, localizadas nos grupos de ligação (GL) C1, C2, E e I, foram associadas a mais de um caráter: no GL C1 (Satt190-Satt136) foram mapeados QTLs para MNS, MNS/NN e MPAS; no GL C2 (Satt460-Satt307) foram mapeados QTLs para NN e MNS; no GL E (Satt573-SAtt185) foram mapeados QTLs para MPAS e NN; e no GL I (Satt239-Satt354) foram mapeados QTLs para MNS/NN e NN. A associação dos QTLs nos GL C1, C2 e E foi atribuída à pleiotropia, enquanto que no GL I foi atribuída à ligação gênica. Os QTLs influenciando apenas um caráter foram mapeados nos GL A2, B1, G e L: no GL A2 (Sct067-Satt589) foi mapeado um QTL para MNS/NN; no GL B1 (Satt509-Satt251) foi mapeado um QTL para NN; no GL L (Satt232-Satt418) foi mapeado um QTL para MPAS; e no GL G (Satt394-Satt288) foi mapeado um QTL para MPAS. Os QTLs explicaram, individualmente, muito pouco da variação fenotípica (R2 = 1,2% a 10,0%), sendo o QTL mais significativo mapeado no GL L para MPAS, e explicou 10,0% da variação do caráter, com um efeito aditivo de 0,57 g planta-1. Portanto, foram detectados QTLs em quatro regiões para MPAS (C1, E, G e L), em cinco regiões para NN (B1, C1, C2, E, G); em duas regiões para MNS (C1, C2) e em três regiões para MNS/NN (A2, C1, I) que explicaram 23,0%, 20,0%, 11,8% e 16,0% da variação fenotípica total, respectivamente. Estes resultados estão de acordo com as herdabilidade relativamente baixas dos caracteres (28% a 49%) e refletem a natureza complexa da FBN, que está sob influência ambiental. / Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a crop with high protein content (about 40%) in the seeds. As a result, the crop demands high nitrogen (N) inputs, which can be supplied by the process of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), through the symbiosis with bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium. In Brazil the BNF allows to fulfill all the demand for N; therefore N fertilizers are not required. However, the traits associated with BNF have not been directly considered in breeding programs due to the difficulties to its evaluation, which require, generally, the plant destruction. The objective of this study was to map Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) of traits related to BNF and to identify useful associations for marker-assisted selection, as well as to obtain other information about the genetic basis of these traits in soybeans. A population of 157 F2:7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a two-way cross, were genotyped with 105 microsatellite markers as well as evaluated for the following traits related with BNF: number of nodes (NN); nodule dry weight (NDW); mean nodule dry weight (NDW/NN); and shoot dry weight (SDW). Using the composite interval mapping for multiple traits (mCIM) method, the QTLs were mapped for all the traits. A genetic map was constructed with an estimated size of 1,263.2 cM, covering about 50% of the genome. Eight genomic regions were associated with the four traits and four of these regions, located on linkage groups (LG) C1, C2, E and I, were associated with more than one trait: in LG C1 (Satt190-Satt136), QTLs for NDW, NDW/NN and SDW were mapped; in LG C2 (Satt460-Satt307), QTLs for NN and NDW were mapped; in GL E (Satt573-SAtt185), QTLs for SDW and NN were mapped; and in GL I (Satt239-Satt354) QTLs for NDW/NN and NN were mapped. The pleiotropy was attributed to QTL association in the LG C1, C2, and E, whereas genetic linkage was attributed to QTL association in LG I. QTLs affecting only one trait were mapped in LG A2, B1, G and L: in LG A2 (Sct067-Satt589) a QTL was mapped, for NDW/NN; in LG B1 (Satt509-Satt251) a QTL was mapped for NN; in LG L (Satt232-Satt418) a QTL was mapped for SDW; and in LG G (Satt394- Satt288) a QTL was mapped for SDW. The QTLs individually explained very little of the phenotypic variation (R2 = 1.2% to 10.0%), and the most significant QTL was mapped in the LG L, explaining 10.0% of the variation for SDW, with an additive effect of 0.57 g plant-1. Therefore, QTLs in four regions were detected for SDW (C1, E, G, and L), in five regions for NN (B1, C1, C2, E, and G), in two regions for NDW (C1, and C2) and in three regions for SDW/NN (A2, C1, and I), which explained 23.0%, 20.0%, 11.8% and 16.0% of phenotypic variation, respectively. These results are in agreement with the relatively low heritability of the traits (28% to 49%) and reflect the complex nature of BNF traits, which are influenced by the environmental effects.

O presente trabalho estudou as relações entre as taxas de fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN), a composição e a diversidade da comunidade de bactérias diazotróficas de vida livre em três compartimentos: solo sob a copa, filosfera e dermosfera de diferentes espécies arbóreas, sendo que dermosfera foi avaliada em apenas duas espécies. As plantas escolhidas foram Euterpe edulis (Palmito juçara) Guapira opposita (Louro-branco) e Merostachys neesii (Bambu) presentes na Floresta Ombrófila Densa (FOD) de terras baixas e montanas do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, no Estado de São Paulo Brasil. As taxas de FBN foram estimadas pela técnica de redução de acetileno (ARA) através da relação teórica 3:1, baseada na redução de três moles de acetileno para cada mol de N fixado, e a composição da comunidade bacteriana foi acessada pelo sequenciamento parcial do gene rRNA 16S usando pirossequenciador. Foram encontradas diferenças nas estimativas das taxas de FBN que variaram entre as espécies arbóreas e principalmente entre os substratos. Os testes de comparação de médias indicaram que, nas árvores amostradas, as taxas de FBN aumentaram na ordem: solo sob a projeção da copa, filosfera e dermosfera. A maior FBN foi observada na dermosfera de E. edulis, no PESM-Santa Virginia, durante o verão (630,12±27,28 ng N cm-2 h-1) e a menor FBN no solo de G. opposita PESM-Santa Virginia, também no verão (0,49±0,17 ng N cm-2 h-1). A FBN da serapilheira e do solo não associado com as espécies arbóreas apresentou grande variabilidade espacial nas duas áreas amostradas, mas não apresentou variações sazonais. O pirosequenciamento do gene rRNA 16S mostrou que solo sob a copa, filosfera e dermosfera das espécies arbóreas avaliadas possuem comunidades bacterianas distintas, além destas serem também influenciadas pelo local de amostragem. A comunidade epifítica da dermosfera também foi influenciada pela espécie arbórea. Foram obtidas 423210 sequências que foram agrupadas em 35216 unidades taxonômicas operacionais (UTOs), distribuídas em 32 filos, dentre os quais o mais abundante foi o filo Proteobacteria (36,6%). Dos possíveis diazotróficos observados, o filo Proteobacteria foi dominante nos três compartimentos avaliados, com predomínio da classe Alphaproteobacteria, principalmente na filosfera de M. neesii. A presença de cianobactérias foi maior na dermosfera, e Firmicutes no solo sob a projeção da copa, sugerindo que a comunidade bacteriana é altamente diversificada e tende variar espacialmente. / In this study we estimate the relationship between biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) rates and composition and diversity of free-living diazotrophic bacteria in phyllosphere and soil under the canopy of tree species, Euterpe edulis (Juçara palmito), Guapira opposita (\"Louro-branco\"),and Merostachys neesii (Bamboo) in lowland and montane dense ombrophilous forests (DOFs) at the Serra do Mar State Park, Brazil; bark was also evaluated in the first two tree species. BNF rates were estimated by acetylene reduction activity (ARA) using the 3:1 theoretical ratio, based on the reduction of three acetylene moles per each N mole fixed. Bacterial community composition was evaluated by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing with a pyrosequencer. Analysis of variance showed highly significant estimated for BNF rates, which widely varied between tree species and especially between substrates. Mean comparison tests indicated that higher BNF rates followed the following order: soil under projected canopy, phyllosphere, and bark, respectively. The highest BNF rate was observed in E. edulis bark(630.12±27.28 ng N cm-2 h-1) and the lowest BNF rate in soil under G. opposita canopy (0.49±0.17 ng N cm-2 h-1), both at the PESMSanta Virginia site in the summer. The BNF in leaf litter and soil unassociated with tree species exhibited high spatial variability in two sampling sites, but this does not indicate a temporal trend in higher BNF rates between winter and summer. Pyrosequencing of the rRNA 16S gene showed that each component of the tree species evaluated harbors a distinct bacterial community. In bark, phyllosphere, and soil the under projected canopy of trees sampled, the results demonstrated influence by sampling site. We also observed that there was influence of tree species on the epiphytic community in bark. The 423, 210sequences obtained were grouped into35,216 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), distributed among 32 phyla, with highest abundance of Proteobacteria (36.6%). Between the possible diazotrophs observed, Proteobacteria was dominant among the three components evaluated, with predominance of the class Alphaproteobacteria, especially in M. neesii phyllosphere. The presence of cyanobacteria was higher in bark and Firmicutes in soil under projected canopy of the trees sampled, suggesting that the bacterial community is highly diverse and tends to spatially vary.

Beijerinckia sp., bactéria de vida livre fixadora de nitrogênio, comumente encontrada em solos tropicais lateríticos. A cianoficina produzida por cianobactérias é a única reserva nitrogenada intracelular descrita até hoje. O presente trabalho teve como principal objetivo verificar o acúmulo de material nitrogenado intracelular associado à Fixação Biológica de Nitrogênio em cinco isolados de Beijerinckia da rizosfera de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum sp.). Os resultados mostraram um aumento na concentração de proteína celular total concomitantemente a atividade da nitrogenase durante a fase estacionária de todos os isolados. A fixação de nitrogênio durante esta fase sugere que o destino do nitrogênio fixado seriam os grânulos de armazenamento. A análise química desta reserva confirmou a presença de arginina em teor muito elevado em relação aos demais aminoácidos sugerindo uma reserva nitrogenada diferente da cianoficina. Em recombinantes de Escherichia coli confirmou-se um possível gene envolvido no armazenamento de material nitrogenado em Beijerinckia sp. / Beijerinckia sp. bacteria free-living nitrogen-fixing, commonly found in tropical lateritic soils. The cyanophycin produced by cyanobacteria is the only intracellular nitrogen reserve described to date. This study aimed to verify the intracellular buildup of nitrogen associated with Biological Nitrogen Fixation in five Beijerinckia isolated from the rhizosphere of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.). The results showed an increase in total cellular protein concentration concomitantly nitrogenase activity during the stationary phase of all isolates. The nitrogen fixation during this phase suggests that the fate of fixed nitrogen would be the storage granules. Chemical analysis of the reserve confirmed the presence of very high content of arginine in relation to other amino acids suggesting a different reserve of cyanophycin. In recombinant Escherichia coli confirmed a possible gene involved in nitrogen storage material in Beijerinckia sp.

Os manguezais estão localizados na interface entre o continente e o oceano em regiões intertropicais, possuindo condições ambientais únicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade e o potencial biotecnológico da comunidade de Pseudomonas spp. em sedimentos de manguezais com diferentes estágios de preservação, no Estado de São Paulo. A diversidade de Pseudomonas spp. foi avaliada por meio da detecção do gene 16S rRNA e do gene gacA de isolados de Pseudomonas, como também por métodos independentes de cultivo. Dos 83 isolados obtidos, 55 foram positivos para o gene gacA. De acordo com as análises de DGGE e da biblioteca de clones, os diferentes manguezais apresentam comunidades de Pseudomonas bem distintas. Entre as espécies caracterizadas, P. nitroreducens e P. fluorescens foram predominantes. Pseudomonas de manguezais halotolerantes produzem AIA, ACC deaminase, NH3, solubilizam fosfato e fixam nitrogênio. Estudos demonstraram o potencial de Pseudomonas para promoção de crescimento de milho e redução dos efeitos do estresse salino sobre a planta. / Mangroves are located at the interface of continent and ocean in intertropical regions, possessing unique environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity and biotechnological potential of Pseudomonas spp. community in mangrove sediments under different stages of preservation in the São Paulo state. Pseudomonas spp. diversity was analyzed through the detection of 16S rRNA gene and gacA gene of Pseudomonas isolates, as well as through cultive independent methods. Of the 83 isolates, 55 were positive for gacA gene. According to DGGE and clone library analysis, the different mangroves showed very distinct Pseudomonas communities. Among the characterized species by 16S rRNA gene, P. nitroreducens and P. fluorescens were dominant. Pseudomonas mangrove halotolerant produce IAA, ACC deaminase, NH3, solubilize phosphate and fix nitrogen. Studies demonstrated the potential of Pseudomonas for maize growth promotion and reduce the effects of salt stress on the plant.