Potenciais aplicações de micro-organismos endofíticos na promoção do desenvolvimento vegetal

Abstract

Many microrganisms associated with plants can be found. Endophyte is the name given to any microrganism infecting the inner tissues of the host plant without causing any damage to the plant or the development of abnormal structures. Such associations may occur in the aerial parts (leaves, stems, flowers and fruits) as well as in underground parts (roots). The main representatives of the community are endophytic fungi and bacteria, these organisms can be transmitted from one plant to another by seeds, vectors or can be purchased through the soil, the distribution of these throughout the host plant is facilitated by conducting vessels of sap carrying bacteria and fungi throughout the plant. Among the main benefits caused by endophytes in the host plant, there is the promotion of growth, initially by biological control, process in which bacteria and fungi endophytic diminish or prevent the deleterious effects caused by pests and pathogenic microrganisms, reducing the use of pesticides; The production of plant hormones (auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, cytokinin and ethylene) leading to better plant development, from its formation to the growth of fruit, also acting in times of environmental stress. In the production of siderophores that assist in the transport of iron across the membrane. Finally, the endophytic microrganisms also act in nitrogen fixation (important element in the formation of nucleic acids and proteins), and phosphate solubilization in insoluble form. The bibliographic raised, indicate that endophytic microrganisms have an important role in plant development, so that these researches lead to a promising future for agriculture and vegetable cultivation