Effect of drought on the rhizosphere microbiome of different common bean cultivars

• Grant number: 22/08729-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Lucas William Mendes
• Grantee: Teresa Maria Lorizolla Mafra
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/16043-7 - Rhizosphere microbiome of the drought tolerant common bean, AP.PFPMCG.JP

Abstract

Over the years, global agriculture has been increasingly suffering from water stress as the main regions of the world's agricultural production are affected by drought, impacting the economy and society. In this way, techniques such as the genetic breeding of crops have been gaining focus in recent times as they can develop more drought-tolerant plants. Also, new research has generated information on the ability of specific soil microorganisms to influence the tolerance to water stress in plants. In nature, plants interact simultaneously with beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms, revealing the need to understand the cumulative effect of these interactions on the plant's ability to overcome abiotic stresses. Recent studies have shown that the rhizosphere microbiome plays an important role in the functioning of plants, influencing their physiology and development, but for most of the rhizosphere microorganisms, there is still not much information. Thus, drought-tolerant and susceptible bean cultivars will be grown in a greenhouse under normal and water-stress conditions. The microbiome data will be integrated with the physicochemical properties of the soil and the physiology and genetic traits of the plants, aiming to understand the genetic control of the host plant in the assembly of the rhizosphere microbiome during drought. The results will contribute to a better understanding of plant-microbe interactions and their role in helping the plant to tolerate water stress. Considering the importance of soil microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles, as well as in promoting plant health and development, a study focused on microbial ecology is extremely necessary for the development of new methodologies that help in agricultural productivity. This project aims to assist the work under development in the FAPESP JP 2019/16043-7 project, including the maintenance and monitoring of the experiment, obtaining physiological data of the plants, and the rhizospheric DNA.(AU)