NATIVE ECTOMYCORRHIZAS AND YEASTS: POTENCIAL BIORESOURSES FOR FORESTRY PRODUCTION

FERNÁNDEZ NATALIA; MESTRE MARÍA CECILIA; MARCHELLI PAULA; FONTENLA SONIA

Pucon

Workshop; 4th International Workshop ?Advances in science and technology of bioresources?; 2013

Universidad de la Frontera

Mycorrhizas are mutualistic associations between soil fungi and plant roots which influence water and nutrient uptake. Yeasts are abundant in soil and play an important role in soil aggregation and nutrients cycles. Nothofagus are ecologically and economically important species, and they all have ectomycorrhizas (EcM). There are numerous yeast species associated with Nothofagus roots and the surrounding soil. Ectomycorrhizas and yeasts are capable of promoting plant growth and resistance against phytopathogens. Consequently, they can be used as biofertilizers or biocontrol agents. Tree domestication refers to how humans select, manage and propagate species in order to increase growth rate, disease resistance or wood quality. In Patagonia, different Nothofagus species are included in domestication programs. Describing the microorganisms associated with these forestry species is important for domestication programs, since nursery inoculation with suitable EcM and/or yeasts could be of great importance for seedling improvement. The objective of this work was to describe the capacity of diverse ectomycorrhizal fungi and yeast species previously described in Nothofagus to promote plant growth and to inhibit phytopathogens growth. Traditional and molecular methods were used for fungal identification. For analysing the potential of native ectomycorrhizal fungal species to act as biofertilizers or biocontrol agents, comparisons with previously published works were performed. In the case of yeasts, the ability of producing auxins and siderophores, and to reduce phytopathogens growth was evaluated. It was observed that some fungi forming EcM in Nothofagus corresponded to genera or species that have been successfully used as growth promoters or antagonists against pathogens. In addition, it was found that many yeasts were capable of producing auxins and/or siderophores, and even of inhibiting phytopathogens growth. This study provides information that emphasizes the importance of considering native microorganisms as a bioresource that could be applied for improving plant fitness and quality during domestication programs. This information is therefore important for innovation in forestry production.