Characterization of yeasts isolated from agricultural areas as plant growth promoters and their interaction with mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria

• Grant number: 11/02322-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2011 - December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Maria Rosa Magri
• Grantee: Márcia Maria Rosa Magri
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Sandra Regina Ceccato Antonini

Abstract

Soil is an extremely complex ecosystem, with high microbial biodiversity, but largely unknown. Studies on the role of soil microorganisms indicate the presence of beneficial species for crop development, a group known as "plant growth promoters". Among these we can highlight the rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. Yeasts also inhabit the soil, but in a smaller number compared to bacteria and molds, due to this fact, little is known about their role in this ecosystem. Preliminary results with epiphytes and rhizospheric yeasts from sugar cane and maize indicated that some strains which solubilized phosphate in vitro, are able to produce indole acetic acid (IAA), an auxin-like substance, which promote plant growth. Considering these aspects, this project aims to assess the potential of soil yeasts as plant growth promoters by producing IAA and solubilization of minerals, as well as the analysis of possible interactions between these strains and mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria. This project will also evaluate the overall potential of microorganisms in vitro and in vivo, with the analysis of its competence in soil and root colonization. With the completion of this work it is expected to contribute to the knowledge of yeasts and their functions in soil, with the goal of developing technologies for application in agroecosystems towards a more sustainable agricultural production. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ANA SILVIA DE ALMEIDA SCARCELLA; RODOLFO BIZARRIA JUNIOR; REINALDO GASPAR BASTOS; MÁRCIA MARIA ROSA MAGRI. Temperature, pH and carbon source affect drastically indole acetic acid production of plant growth promoting yeasts. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. 34, n. 2, p. 429-438, 2017-04-00. (13/02421-3, 11/02322-0)

SCARCELLA, A. S. DE A.; BIZARRIA JUNIOR, R.; BASTOS, R. G.; MAGRI, M. M. R.. TEMPERATURE, pH AND CARBON SOURCE AFFECT DRASTICALLY INDOLE ACETIC ACID PRODUCTION OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING YEASTS. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. 34, n. 2, p. 429-438, APR-JUN 2017. (13/02421-3, 11/02322-0)