Progress on metabolomics studies of Cerrado plant species developed in different aluminium availabilities

• Grant number: 13/21293-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Batista da Costa
• Grantee: Marcelo Claro de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian savanna (cerrado) biome comprises the second largest concerning plant diversity in Brazil, occupying 21% of the national territory in the past. Internationally, the cerrados are considered an unlimited source of natural drugs, however, these species have been neglected in relation to the production of secondary metabolites and resistance to Al toxicity. Because of its abundance and toxicity, Al is considered one of the most limiting factor for plant development, damaging root systems and interfering on the production of secondary metabolites. Aiming at a sustainable use of these species, a massive investment in researche evaluating the production of secondary metabolites, root development, mineral nutrition as well as Al resistance/dependence becomes necessary. In this project we are proposing two experiments using some species with potential for pharmacological uses: 1 - evaluate Al toxicity or benefits on the initial root development of Qualea frandiflora (Vochysiaceae - cerrado species, Al-accumulator), Styrax camporum (Styracaceae - cerrado species, Al-non-accumulator), Helianthus annuus (Asteraceae - crop, cerrado alien species, high sensitive to Al toxicity) and Bidens pilosa (Asteracea - weed, cerrado alien species, low sensitive to Al toxicity). In order to accomplish our proposal, metabolomic variations, Al accumulation, and biometric and morphological changes on root system will be evaluated for seedlings cultivated on nutrient solution, in acid pH (4.0), with five concentrations of Al (0, 5, 10, 20 e 40 mmolc dm-3) during 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 144 h of root contact with Al; 2 - using Phthirusa ovata (Loranthaceae - hemiparasite, facultative Al-accumulator) hosted on many species, ecophysiological interactions between parasite and host, and between parasite and parasite will be evaluated. Leaf concentration of lectin in P. ovata, and the metabolomic relationships, specific leaf area, mineral nutrition and Al accumulation on P. ovata as well as on the hosts will be evaluated. Leaves of P. ovata and its respective hosts will be collected in different cerrado's physiognomies in the states of SP, MG and GO. Aiming at the largest number of hosts, the samplings will take place on the wet season. The results of this project will contribute to: 1 - better understanding of Al toxicity and benefits on cerrado's native species and alien species; 2 - subsidy for breeding plants of Al sensitive species, therefore reducing costs of production and also avoiding the expansion of agricultural fields on cerrado's remains; 3 - regarding with highlights of ecological and agronomic uses, a better understanding about the metabolism and dependence/resistance of the cerrado's species to the Al effects, the results of this project may contribute, in the future, with the conscious exploitation of secondary metabolites in cerrado's species with pharmacological potential.

Scientific publications

(6)

(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)

DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; DO AMARAL, CARITA LIBERATO; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO; DA COSTA AGUIAR ALVES, PEDRO LUIS; DA COSTA, FERNANDO BATISTA. Non-destructive model to estimate the leaf area of multiple Vochysiaceae species. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, v. 38, n. 4, p. 903-909, DEC 2015. (13/21293-6, 12/25298-0)

DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; SCALON, MARINA CORREA; POSCHENRIEDER, CHARLOTTE; TOLRA, ROSER; VENANCIO, TIAGO; TEIXEIRA, SIMONE PADUA; DA COSTA, FERNANDO BATISTA. Aluminium detoxification in facultative (Passovia ovata (Pohl ex DC.) Kuijt and Struthanthus polyanthus Mart. - Loranthaceae) and dependent (Psittacanthus robustus (Mart.) Marloth - Loranthaceae) Al-accumulating mistletoe species from the Brazilian savanna. Phytochemistry, v. 153, p. 58-63, SEP 2018. (13/21293-6)

DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO; DO AMARAL, CARITA LIBERATO; ROSA, ANNYLORY LIMA; ONGARO PINHEIRO, MARCELO HENRIQUE; DA COSTA, FERNANDO BATISTA. Vochysia tucanorum Mart.: an aluminum-accumulating species evidencing calcifuge behavior. PLANT AND SOIL, v. 419, n. 1-2, p. 377-389, OCT 2017. (13/21293-6, 14/26866-7, 10/51454-3)

BANHOS, OTAVIA F. A. A.; DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; HABERMANN, GUSTAVO. High aluminum availability may affect Styrax camporum, an Al non-accumulating species from the Brazilian savanna. THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, v. 28, n. 3, p. 321-332, SEP 2016. (13/21293-6, 12/01351-9)

SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; SCALON, MARINA CORREA; POSCHENRIEDER, CHARLOTTE; TOLRA, ROSER; VENANCIO, TIAGO; TEIXEIRA, SIMONE PADUA; DA COSTA, FERNANDO BATISTA. Mechanisms of storage and detoxification of Al in two tropical mistletoes. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, v. 150, p. 37-45, JUN 2018. (13/21293-6, 14/26866-7, 10/51454-3)

DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; ROSA, ANNYLORY LIMA; POSCHENRIEDER, CHARLOTTE; TOLRA, ROSER; DA COSTA, FERNANDO BATISTA. Fingerprinting metabolomics in tropical mistletoes: A case study with facultative aluminum-accumulating species. PHYTOCHEMISTRY LETTERS, v. 25, p. 90-94, JUN 2018. (13/21293-6, 14/26866-7, 10/51454-3)