Biodiversity of Trichoderma spp. from the Amazon Forest and bioprospecting of hydrolytic enzymes and bioactive compounds

• Grant number: 13/26659-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Itamar Soares de Melo
• Grantee: Itamar Soares de Melo
• Host Institution: Embrapa Meio-Ambiente. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). Jaguariúna , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ljubica Tasic ; Sonia Claudia Do Nascimento de Queiroz

Abstract

Fungal breakdown of lignocellulose in tropical forests is of central importance to terrestrial carbon cycling, and the fungus Trichoderma, an ubiquitous colonizer of cellulosic materials, is one of the most frequently isolated in most soils of various ecosystems, and produces cellulolytic enzymes that function synergistically to decompose plant biomass. It make a significant contribution to the decomposition of woody and herbaceus materials. Degradation of lignocellulosic materials to monomeric sugars through the action of cellulolytic enzymes has great importance, since sugars can serve as raw materials that can be converted to ethanol. In addition, some species of this fungus have economic importance because of their production of antibiotics, anticancer compounds, or use as biological control agents. Despite its environmental and industrial importance worldwide, the biodiversity, biogeography and application potential of this fungus in native ecosystems are still negleted topics. As Amazon forest is known for its high biological diversity and high level of endemism, it can provide basic insights on ecological processes, especially related to carbon cycle. The rationale and approach of this project will investigate this fungus which is established prolific producers of novel enzymes, metabolites e biocontrol agents. Isolates will be identified at the species level by the oligonucleotide BarCode for Trichoderma (TrichOKEY), sequence similarity analysis (Trichoblast) and phylogenetic inferences. Thus, the project aims to develop a complete inventary on the diversity ( richness and evenness) of Trichoderma in various habitats of the Amazon forest, and also bioprospecting for hydrolytic enzymes and bioactive compounds, and biocontrol agents. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(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)

GENUARIO, DIEGO BONALDO; MARCAL VIEIRA VAZ, MARCELO GOMES; DE VIELO, ITAMAR SOARES. Phylogenetic insights into the diversity of homocytous cyanobacteria from Amazonian rivers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 116, p. 120-135, NOV 2017. (14/26131-7, 13/26659-9)

GENUARIO, DIEGO BONALDO; SANT'ANNA, CELIA LEITE; MELO, ITAMAR SOARES. Elucidating the Cronbergia (cyanobacteria) dilemma with the description of Cronbergia amazonensis sp nov isolated from Solimoes river (Amazonia, Brazil). ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS, v. 29, p. 233-241, JAN 2018. (14/26131-7, 13/26659-9)

GENUARIO, DIEGO BONALDO; DE SOUZA, WALLACE RAFAEL; ROSIN MONTEIRO, REGINA TERESA; SANT'ANNA, CELIA LEITE; MELO, ITAMAR SOARES. Amazoninema gen. nov., (Synechococcales, Pseudanabaenaceae) a novel cyanobacteria genus from Brazilian Amazonian rivers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY, v. 68, n. 7, p. 2249-2257, JUL 2018. (14/26131-7, 13/26659-9)

BONONI, LAURA; CHIARAMONTE, JOSIANE BARROS; PANSA, CAMILA CRISTIANE; MOITINHO, MARTA ALVES; MELO, ITAMAR SOARES. Phosphorus-solubilizing Trichoderma spp. from Amazon soils improve soybean plant growth. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 10, n. 1, FEB 18 2020. (13/26659-9)