Investigation of the molecular and morphophysiological responses of Megathyrsus maximus under different water regimes

• Grant number: 24/00601-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Anete Pereira de Souza
• Grantee: Jéssica Faversani Diniz
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Embrapa Sede
• Associated research grant: 22/04006-2 - Center for Plant Molecular Breeding (CeM²P), AP.PCPE

Abstract

Brazil stands out as one of the leading exporters in the agricultural sector, making increasing its productivity essential for the country's development. One of the main strategies to achieve this goal is the improvement of grasses used as pastures. Megathyrsus maximus is the most productive among the forage crops used in Brazil. Accessions with different attributes, such as high productivity, good nutritional quality, medium to high soil fertility requirements, high resistance to spittlebugs and different tolerance levels to water deficit and flooding, characterize it. Given the significant impact of abiotic stresses on forage productivity levels and that M. maximus pastures are predominantly located in a region marked by alternation between drought and temporary flooding, it is crucial to elucidate the genetic and morphophysiological processes related to tolerance to these stressors. Given this context, the main objective of this project is to analyze and compare the leaf tissue transcriptome of Megathyrsus maximus genotypes with different levels of tolerance to flooding and water deficit. Characterizing accessions at the transcriptional level and understanding the molecular and morphophysiological mechanisms involved in tolerance to water stress can provide new knowledge and tools for developing the M. maximus breeding program, positively impacting the production chain.