Gene expression in Glycine max as a response to water stress under different microbiomes of drylands soils

• Grant number: 23/16775-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Dini Andreote
• Grantee: Danilo Ferreira da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The vast expanses classified as arid, semi-arid, and dry subhumid lands represent approximately 40% of the Earth's surface and support around 28% of the world's population. Often overlooked, these regions harbor a wealth of life forms perfectly adapted to environments considered extreme. The study of this biodiversity can not only provide knowledge about adaptations and survival strategies but also reveal potential genetic resources of great value, such as microorganisms and metabolic processes capable of imparting greater resistance to plants in the face of adverse conditions. In the context of climate change, the optimization of soybean production in regions with periodic water scarcity has also received increasing attention. However, the escalating water stress due to the recurrence of extreme climatic events poses one of the most urgent challenges for global agriculture, not only in arid areas. The main objective of this study is to investigate the potential of microbiomes from arid/semi-arid regions to increase the expression of genes related to water stress in soybean plants (Glycine max), providing them with greater resistance to extreme drought events. The research will assess the biological potential of the Caatinga microbiome, the impact of water conditions on the agronomic and physiological attributes of plants, as well as the expression of genes associated with oxidative and osmotic metabolism, and growth regulation. It is expected that soybean cultivars will respond to microbiome modulations, contributing to the development of more effective agronomic strategies resistant to adverse environmental conditions in the context of climate change and limited water resources.