Diversity of cultivated fungi associated with conventional and transgenic sugarcan...
| Grant number: | 15/10974-8 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | November 01, 2015 - October 31, 2017 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy |
| Principal Investigator: | Paulo Teixeira Lacava |
| Grantee: | Paulo Teixeira Lacava |
| Home Institution: | Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil |
Abstract
The pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) is a species that presents a regular medicinal and ornamental value. Nowadays, pinhão-manso crop is raising attention as an alternative crop for biodiesel production. Endophytic microorganisms have been defined as those that reside at some phase of their life cycle within living plant tissues. These microorganisms include mutualistic symbionts species of bacteria, which could be used in the plant growth promotion and biological control of phytopathogens. Endophytic bacteria promote plant growth and yield either directly or indirectly. The direct growth promoting activities are as follows i) nitrogen fixation ii) solubulization of phosphorus and iii) production of phytohormones such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins. Second indirect mechanism of plant growth promotion by endophytes include biocontrol of phytopathogens. In recent years, interest in endophytic microorganisms has increased, as they play a key role in agricultural environments and are promising because of their potential use in sustainable agriculture. The importance of the microorganisms in enzyme production is due its high production capability, low cost and susceptibility to genetic manipulation. Actually, the enzymes of microbial origin have high biotechnological interest. The endophytic microorganisms occupy a relatively unexplored site in microorganism isolation so they can represent a new source in obtaining more enzymes with different potentialities. The present project will select of plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria via their biochemical screening like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization and indole acetic acid production. In addition, the biocontrol potential of the endophytic isolates will be tested against phytophatogen fungi by antagonist activity. Finally, the enzyme production by endophytic isolates, with biotechnological interest, will be screened. (AU)