Identification and characterization of new bacteria of agronomic relevance with multifunctional potential

• Grant number: 23/04382-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: María Eugenia Guazzaroni
• Grantee: Joshelin Huanca Juarez
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/01748-5 - Discovery and development of new non-model bacterial chassis for biotechnological applications, AP.TEM

Abstract

Bioinputs can promote plant growth and suppress pests and diseases, emerging as an attractive alternative for reducing agrochemicals usage, improving soil quality, and increasing crop yields. Its application is a necessary step in achieving the objectives of sustainable agriculture. Because the bioinput market is expected to increase faster than the use of agrochemicals in the next years, numerous initiatives have been implemented in Brazil to stimulate their usage. Microorganisms that stimulate plant growth and reduce plant diseases are thus concerned with feeding the world's population in a safe and sustainable manner. Yet, due to a lack of use in field experiments, certain strains exhibit features that result in products with inconsistent impacts. Thus, the aim of this research is to identify and determine the potential of multifunctional microorganisms from a bank of bacterial isolates using methodologies such as whole-genome sequence analysis, characterization of growth promotion and biological control mechanisms, and field experiments to evaluate the positive impact on sugarcane growth under inoculation conditions.