IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE ESPÉCIES DE ECTOMICORRIZAS EM RAÍZES FINAS DE Eucalyptus grandis

• Grant number: 14/04479-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Marisa de Cassia Piccolo
• Grantee: Maiele Cintra Santana
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/16623-9 - ECOLOGICAL INTENSIFICATION OF EUCALYPTUS PLANTATIONS BY ASSOCIATION OF NITROGEN FIXING LEGUMINOUS TREE SPECIES, AP.TEM

Abstract

In Brazil , Eucalyptus plantations currently representing about 5.1 million hectares . Eucalyptus forests require large amounts of nitrogen ( N ) and phosphorus ( P ) and generally , the soils of low natural fertility for planting are used , a correction with the application of fertilizer is needed. However, the application of these inputs becomes a very costly production. In this sense, it is necessary to use less aggressive management techniques to the ground , trying to insert a minimum of mineral fertilizers , thereby optimizing costs and enabling the forest expansion . It is known that the symbiosis between mycorrhizal fungi and fine roots of E. grandis is very important in the nutrition of these plants , having a substantial impact on the dynamics of soil carbon . These fungi act as true extensions of the root system of the plant , increasing the contact area with the ground and driving little moving parts to the plant , such as N and P , increasing the absorption of nutrients and water . The aim of this study is to identify species and / or structures associated with ectomycorrhizal fine roots of E. grandis up to 1 meter deep . The experimental area is located at the Experimental Station of Forest Sciences ( ESALQ / USP ) , in the municipality of Itatinga ( SP ) . 4 replicates will be collected for each sampled soil depth ( 0-25 , 25-50 and 50-100 cm ) . After selection of fine roots , will be assessed through microscopic structures of ectomycorrhizal colonization , followed by storage of images through computer programs . The results are expressed as a percentage of ectomycorrhizae by root segments analyzed and compared the morphotypes are found in virtual libraries of specialized international institutes .