Impact of Integration of Microalgae from Wastewater Treatment and Bacillus aryabhattai on Amaranth Plant Development

• Grant number: 25/00913-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Inês Cechin
• Grantee: Bianca Dionísio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The rapid population growth has significantly increased global demand for fresh water and food, which, in turn, has intensified the generation of wastewater, causing problems for people, animals, and the environment. This wastewater is characterized by a high load of organic matter, mineral nutrients, pharmaceuticals, potentially toxic elements, among other components, depending on its origin. When properly treated, sewage can become a source of nutrient recovery, a process that can be carried out using microalgae as depolluting agents. The extraction of these nutrients by microalgae and their use in the fertilization of agricultural crops can promote plant growth while fostering more sustainable agriculture. Rhizobacteria are microorganisms associated with plant roots, collectively known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). These microorganisms have been used in agriculture to stimulate crop growth and mitigate the effects of abiotic stresses. The genus Amaranthus is of great agronomic importance due to its high nutritional and nutraceutical values, which provide health benefits. In Brazil, the cultivation of amaranth is still not widespread. The objective of this study is to evaluate the growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll content, as well as the macro- and micronutrient levels in the leaves of A. cruentus plants under the addition of dried microalgae combined with the inoculation of Bacillus aryabhattai."