Luiz Felipe de Melo Santos

Bio: Luiz Felipe de Melo Santos is an academic researcher from Sao Paulo State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cotyledon & Shoot. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 7 publications receiving 21 citations.

Azospirillum inoculation of 'Marandu' palisade grass seeds: effects on forage production and nutritional status.

Abstract: Plant-growth-promoting bacteria can be used for sustainable forage grass production while increasing nutrition and biomass. Most of the soils under pasture in the tropics have a degradation level that impairs the forage yield potential, especially because of mismanagement and lack of fertilization. The objective of this work was to evaluate the seed inoculation effects of Azospirillum brasilense on the shoot and root dry mass production and nutritional status of Urochloa brizantha cv. ‘Marandu’ under field conditions for two years in a low-fertility soil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replications, arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme, comprised of two doses of A. brasilense (0 and 200 mL ha-1) in combination with three doses of N (0, 25 and 50 kg ha-1). Seed inoculation increased shoot dry mass by 13% in the first year and by 6% in the second year, whereas N application increased dry mass by 27% and 35% in the first and second year, respectively. The concentration of nutrients in the shoots did not change due to the inoculation, but N fertilization affected P, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the first year and N, P and Cu in the second year. Root dry mass increased 36% with fertilization of 25 kg N ha-1 plus inoculation in relation to the other treatments in the first year. In the second year, the inoculation of A. brasilense increased by 17%. Therefore, seed inoculation of Urochloa brizantha cv. ‘Marandu’ with Azospirillum brasilense increased root and shoot dry mass production in some cuts without influencing tiller numbers. Nitrogen fertilization altered N, Mg, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentrations in shoot dry mass.

Physiological and toxic effects of selenium on seed germination of cowpea seedlings

Abstract: Selenium (Se) is considered a beneficial chemical element for plants, but in high concentrations it may present symptoms of toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate 11 concentrations of Se (0; 0.1; 0.5; 1; 5; 10; 20; 40; 80; 400; 800 mg.L-1) to determine the low and high (toxicity) critical levels to seed germination of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). In addition, alterations in the rate of photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation and sugars during the initial growth development of seedlings were analysed. Seeds exposed to 800 mg.L-1 of Se showed a decrease of 20% of seed germination index compared to the control treatment. The decrease in seedling growth reflected in the increase of total sugars and sucrose concentration in both the shoot and root in response to exposure to Se concentration. There was a decrease in the concentration of leaf chlorophyll, carotenoids and pheophytin from seedlings exposed to high Se concentration. The rate of lipid peroxidation and the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the shoot was reduced up to the concentration of 1 mg.L-1 with subsequent increase in response to Se concentration applied. In the roots, the lipid peroxidation rate increased at concentrations higher than 80 mg.L-1. The highest oxidation rate of the cellular lipid membrane in response to Se occurred in the shoot, due to oxidation reactions in the chloroplast. Degradation of photosynthetic pigments and accumulation of total sugars and sucrose can be considered efficient biomarkers to indicate the toxicity of Se in cowpea seedlings and probably in other crops.

Sulfur modulates yield and storage proteins in soybean grains

Abstract: This study evaluated the nutritional quality, yield, and storage protein modulation in soybean grains in response to levels and sources of sulfur (S) in a dystrophic Ultisol We used five levels of S (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg kg –1 ) and four sources of S (elemental S pastille - ESPA, gypsum - GY, gypsite - GI and elemental S powder - ESPO) Plants treated with 50 mg kg –1 of GY, GI, and ESPO and 200 mg kg –1 of ESPA had the largest grain yield values Low S supply resulted in lower yields for all S sources tested Sulfur deficiencies were observed at all levels for ESPA, resulting in lower concentrations of globulin and higher concentration of glutelin and albumin in the grains, possibly because the S content in the leaf was below the range adequate for soybean, leading to in lower yield values In general, the application of S sources (GY, GI, and ESPO) increased all protein fractions The results show that proper application of S is essential to optimize soybean yield and increase storage proteins in the grains The granulometry of ESPA and ESPO fertilizers was a key factor for the availability of S to soybean plants This study presents relevant information on S fertilization of soybeans, which could provide better grain nutritional quality and increased storage proteins with benefits to animal health

Evaluation of sulfur source and dose on the nutritional state and production of piatã forage

Abstract: Sulfur deficiency in soils has become a worldwide concern for agricultural production. This study aimed to evaluate the concequence of variable sulfur source and dosing on the nutritional status and production of Piata forage in a dystrophic Ultisol. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The 4 x 5 factorial treatments consisted of four sulfur sources (elemental sulfur pastilles [ESPA], gypsum [GY], gypsite [GI], and elemental sulfur powder [ESPO]) and five sulfur doses (0, 50, 100, 150. and 200 mg kg-1). The sulfur applications resulted in similar maximum shoot dry mass (SDM) production (16.66 to 17.69 g pot-1) with all sources. However, Piata grass achieved maximum production in the treatments with 112 mg kg-1 of GI, 118 mg kg-1 of GY and ESPA, and 146 mg kg-1 of ESPO. The number of tillers, the leaf:stem ratio, and SPAD increased with increasing sulfur dose. The greatest increments of root dry mass (RDM) and of the tiller number were obtained with the ESPO source. Macronutrient concentrations in shoot dry mass tissue were in the order K > N > Ca > P > S > Mg. Low sulfur supply resulted in decreased Piata grass growth with all sulfur sources tested. Differential responses were found with applications of different sulfur sources for SDM, RDM, and tillers number. The sources did not alter the leaf:stem ratio or SPAD index.

Perda dos cotilédones em diferentes épocas no crescimento inicial do feijoeiro

Abstract: The objective of this work was to analyze the effect of cotyledon loss at diff erent times of initial bean growth. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme of 2x5, seedlings with zero and one cotyledon, interacting with fi ve extraction stages: zero, one, two, four, and six days after germination, with fi ve replicates composed of three seedlings. After 15 days, the following parameters were evaluated: mean root and shoot length; mean stem diameter; leaf area; total shoot and root dry mass; phloem and xylem diameter; and thickness of abaxial and adaxial epidermis. Removing cotyledons during the initial development of the bean plant infl uenced all the parameters evaluated in this work, except the mean diameter of the stem with one cotyledon. The removal of cotyledons in the fi rst days of extractions hinders the initial development of the plant, as well as making it more susceptible to the environment.

Outstanding impact of Azospirillum brasilense strains Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 on the Brazilian agriculture: Lessons that farmers are receptive to adopt new microbial inoculants

Abstract: For decades, researchers around the world search for strategies aiming at higher sustainability in agriculture. The microbial inoculants or biofertilizers are biotechnological products used for different purposes, the main one being to totally or partially replace chemical fertilizers, with an emphasis on N-fertilizers, reducing costs of production and decreasing the contamination of the soil, water, and atmosphere. Depending on the microorganism and the inoculated crop, inoculants can also induce plant protection to abiotic and biotic stresses and positively modify their physiology. Although inoculation studies and the use of inoculants by farmers date more than a century ago, they have gained more notoriety in the past decade. Brazil has a long tradition in the use of rhizobial inoculants, especially for the soybean crop, but it was only in 2009 that the first commercial inoculant carrying the plant-growth-promoting Azospirillum brasilense strains Ab-V5 (=CNPSo 2083) and Ab-V6 (=CNPSo 2084), identified by our research group, reached the market. One decade after the release of these two strains, 10.5 million doses were commercialized for grasses, including corn, wheat, rice, and pastures of brachiarias, and co-inoculation of legumes, such as soybean and common bean. Several research groups in Brazil presented impressive results of increases in root growth, biomass production, grain yield, uptake of nutrients and water, and increased tolerance to abiotic stresses due to the inoculation with Ab-V5 and Ab-V6. In this review, we gathered the results obtained so far in one decade with these two strains in several grasses and legume crops, confirming their versatility and indicating that with convincing, reliable, and consistent results, the Brazilian farmers are receptive to the adoption of new sustainable technologies based on microorganisms.