Foliar bioactive compounds in Amburana cearensis (Allemao) A.C. Smith seedlings: Increase of biosynthesis using mycorrhizal technology

Amburana cearensis (Allemao) A.C. Smith is a widely used legume by the population due to its medicinal properties. This species establish symbiosis with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that can increase the production of secondary metabolites, a fact which has not been clarified for this plant. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the contribution of the AMF in the production increase of foliar bioactive compounds in A. cearensis seedlings. The experiment which under-goes protected roofing was carried out using four inoculation treatments: non-inoculated control treatment, inoculated with Gigaspora albida, inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum and inoculated with Acaulospora longula. After 160 days, the following was examined: dry matter of the aerial part, chlorophylls a, b and total, soluble carbohydrates, total proteins, total phenols, total flavonoids and total tannins. A. cearensis seedlings inoculate with C. etunicatum accumulated more dry matter of the aerial part (78.38%), total chlorophylls (24.28%) and chlorophylls b (53.63%), total phenols (47.82%), total flavonoids (32.28%) and total tannins (61.58%) in relation to the control treatment. Mycorrhizal technology using the C. etunicatum fungus is an alternative to increase the levels of foliar bioactive compounds in A. cearensis seedlings.   Key words: Caatinga, phenolic compounds, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).