Novel approches to induce the growth and productive potential of Agave spp.: screening of biostimulant compounds and evaluation of their effects on plant phisiology

• Grant number: 24/19901-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira
• Grantee: Gabrielle Henriquetto Cassiano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In light of the challenges posed by climate change and global population growth, there is a growing imperative for enhanced agricultural and energy production. Given the restricted availability of resources and cultivable land, coupled with the susceptibility of crops to detrimental climatic influences, Agave emerges as a prospective bioenergy raw material, particularly in the context of these limitations. The high productivity, adaptive strategies to abiotic stresses, low water and nutrient requirements, and high sugar concentration of the species within the genus, which are capable of growing in marginal arid and semi-arid lands, highlight its potential for the production of biofuels and other bioenergy products. However, Agave is a slow-growing species with a lengthy establishment period, which, when coupled with inadequate management techniques, constrains its productive potential. The implementation of sustainable growth acceleration strategies is pivotal to the realization of Agave's bioenergy capacity. The use of biostimulants and other growth compounds is a common agricultural practice in other crops, with an increasing adoption rate. In this context, the objective of this project is to evaluate the potential of various growth-inducing compounds (commercial biostimulants, nanobiostimulants, amino acids, plant regulators, plant modulators, and Agave-based biofertilizers) when employed in different modes of application. The aim is to identify the most effective external application strategies and to establish the response curves for these compounds in different Agave species. Additionally, the germination of Agave spp. seeds will be examined, and the efficacy of selected growth-inducing compounds will be assessed in other species within the genus. The study will employ non-destructive evaluation through phenotyping to determine biometric parameters and sugar accumulation. This research represents a pioneering investigation into the induction of Agave growth by biostimulant compounds, with the potential to facilitate significant advancements in the management of this crop and its subsequent establishment as a bioenergy crop, offering substantial economic benefits to semi-arid regions of the country.