BIOFORTIFICATION OF COMMON BEANS THROUGH BIOINPUTS

• Grant number: 24/13016-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo de Almeida Silva
• Grantee: Isadora Malveira Costa Frederico
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Common beans are considered a staple food in many parts of the world, providing essential vitamins and minerals for human health. Biofortification research has been conducted on this grain to enhance its protein and nutrient content, making it a healthier and more nutritious food for human consumption. Sustainable technologies have been studied and developed to improve food production and nutritional value, including using beneficial microorganisms known as bio inputs. These include bacteria that contribute to biological nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for mineral nitrogen fertilizers and benefiting bean crops. Bacteria from the Bacillus genus are considered plant growth promoters and are effective at solubilizing nutrients retained in the soil, enhancing plant metabolism. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the potential of the bacteria Rhizobium tropici, Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus velezensis, and B. amyloquefaciens on the availability of macro and micronutrients, as well as their impact on plant development and the nutritional quality of the beans produced. The experiment will be conducted in a protected environment at the Crop Production Department of the School of Agricultural Sciences at UNESP, located in Botucatu/SP. A completely randomized block design will be adopted, with eight treatments [Negative control with no fertilization (T1); Positive control with recommended mineral fertilization (T2); Negative control + Azospirillum brasilense + Rhizobium tropici (T3); Positive control + Azospirillum brasilense + Rhizobium tropici (T4); Negative control + Azospirillum brasilense + Rhizobium tropici + B. velezensis (T5); Positive control + Azospirillum brasilense + Rhizobium tropici + B. velezensis (T6); Negative control + Azospirillum brasilense + Rhizobium tropici + B. amyloliquefaciens (T7); Positive control + Azospirillum brasilense + Rhizobium tropici + B. amyloliquefaciens (T8)] and six replicates, totaling 48 plots. During the experiment, data will be collected on the emergence speed index, emergence speed, germination, and the period until flowering. Physiological assessments will be conducted at stages V4, R5, R6, and R8. At the end of the experiment, plant height, stem diameter, number of lateral branches, number of reproductive nodes, production components, and nutritional and biochemical analyses of the soil, grain, and plant will be carried out. Data will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the F test, and the means will be compared using Tukey's test (pd0.05).