Synthesis of biogenic silver and iron nanoparticles using plant growth-promoting bacteria for use in agriculture

• Grant number: 22/02578-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: March 01, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Renata de Lima
• Grantee: Natalia Bilesky José
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa, Extensão e Inovação. Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21004-5 - Agriculture, micro/nanotechnology and environment: from evaluation of the mechanisms of action to studies of transport and toxicity, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/11951-8 - Synthesis of biogenic silver and iron nanoparticles from plant growth-promoting bacteria for use in agriculture, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Soil fertility is largely maintained by the soil microbiota, which is composed of several microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi. Some of these organisms have the potential to promote plant growth and control pests, being marketed as bioinoculants. However, these organisms are sensitive to biotic and abiotic conditions, which affects their effectiveness and can often lead to the lack of interest of some farmers. Nanotechnology can be a tool regarding these problems, which has been widely studied in the agricultural area, in an attempt to solve problems such as the reduction of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, having as one of the alternatives, its use in combination with microorganisms, through biogenic synthesis, which in addition to being carried out through a cleaner process, presents the synergy between the properties of the chosen metal and the organism. Therefore, the present project proposes to carry out the synthesis of biogenic metallic nanoparticles (silver and iron/iron oxide), using the fermented broth of Azospirillum brasilense, Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bacillus thuringiensis, which can act as a reducing or stabilizing agent, for bean and tomato seeds treatment, aiming at better germination and development of these plants. In addition to the synthesis, the physicochemical characterization of the nanoparticles will be carried out, the evaluation of their toxicity in animal and plant cells and the evaluation of their effect on seed germination and plant growth and their influence on microorganisms of agricultural importance will also be carried out. The importance of this work is due to the need to develop new strategies and solutions that combine low environmental impact alternatives, such as bioinoculants, with strategies that offer greater effectiveness