Interação de fungos endofíticos do gênero muscodor com plantas de café Arábica

Abstract

Endophytic fungi are found associated with plants and their interaction with plants of economic and phytotherapeutic importance has been reported and may result in the development of bioinoculants and other biotechnological products. The objective of this work was to evaluate the interaction of 12 endophytic fungi of the genus Muscodor with the cultivars Catuaí Vermelho and Topázio of Coffea arabica, in relation to vegetative growth, enzymes of the antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide of plants, phyto- hormones produced by fungi and plants, as well as the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic compounds of fungi and plants. The fungi were also re-isolated from the inoculated plants. The fungus Muscodor coffeanum (CML 4019) produced more ACC deaminase, auxins with and without L-Tryptophan and gibberellins, in addition to a higher concentration of total phenolic compounds and the highest antioxidant activity. The production of siderophores was greater for the fungus M. coffeanum (CML 4018). After six months of cultivation, the coffee plants were exposed to leaf miner attack, and less damage was observed in plants inoculated with the endophytic fungi. The initial growth of Catuaí Vermelho cultivar plants inoculated with M. coffeanum (CML 4014) and Muscodor sp. (CML 4015), and those of the Topázio cultivar inoculated with the fungus M. coffeanum (CML 4018) were better for plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, length and diameter of the main root, and total dry biomass. Greater activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase was obtained in plants inoculated with M. coffeanum (CML 4011 and CML 4020) for the cultivars Catuaí Vermelho and Topázio, respectively. Fungi with macro and microscopic structures similar to Muscodor were re- isolated from the inoculated plants. The results suggest a positive interaction between Muscodor fungi and coffee plants, intensifying the production of some important metabolites for plant growth and protection.