Endophytic bacteria associated to Phytophthora spp. in citrus and cassava: diversity and biological control

• Grant number: 22/10196-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Agreement: CONFAP - National Council of State Research Support Foundations
• Principal Investigator: Welington Luiz de Araújo
• Grantee: Welington Luiz de Araújo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/03459-6 - Organization of a collection of Endophytic bacteria associated to Phytophthora spp. in citrus and cassava, BP.TT

Abstract

The genus Phytophthora is one of the most important among the phytopathogenic oomycetes, being able to infect a large number of cultivated species of socio-economic importance for the world population, as well as many uncultivated plants. In this context, it is relevant to identify the diversity and genetic variability of these phytopathogens isolated from different host plants (especially citrus and cassava) and to evaluate sustainable strategies to control this phytopathogen. Thus, considering the interaction between the endophytic community (especially Burkholderia spp. and Methylobacterium spp.) with the host plant, and with associated pathogens, it is possible to identify patterns of this community that are associated with the greater susceptibility of the plant to pathogens as well as identify potential microorganisms with potential for biological control. Thus, in the present proposal, the microbiome associated with citrus stems and cassava roots will be characterized by independent cultivation methods (taxonomic and functional diversity) and the capacity of Burkholderia spp. and Methylobacterium spp. in producing compounds of biotechnological interest and inhibiting Phytophthora spp. will be evaluated. For this, samples of citrus (especially in the state of São Paulo) and cassava (especially in the state of Pará) will be collected from areas with or without gum disease (citrus) or root rot (cassava) and the microbial diversity associated with the plants. will be evaluated. Furthermore, isolates of Phytophthora spp. will be obtained from these plants and the genetic diversity and variability will be evaluated by molecular methods, allowing to compare the genetic variation of these isolates obtained in the two states and the two plant species. The present proposal aims to achieve a result not yet described in the Brazilian literature, describing the citrus and cassava microbiome and its interaction with Phytophthora spp. of biological control of this phytopathogen. (AU)