Bioherbicides: Regenerative agriculture using bacteria and their genes for peanut crop

• Grant number: 24/14496-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Luis da Costa Aguiar Alves
• Grantee: Natalia Sarmanho Monteiro Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The search for more sustainable agriculture is being discussed in major global forums. Soil health stands out as one of the most important aspects of this approach, encompassing the conservation of organism diversity within it, the reduction of the application of potentially polluting compounds, and the remediation of contaminated areas/soil. Interdisciplinary projects can be an alternative to achieve these goals, especially considering the complexity of soil and the negative effects of old agricultural practices, such as the extensive use of herbicides that can lead to weed resistance and phytotoxicity. This project aims to develop more sustainable agricultural practices focusing on peanut cultivation (Arachis hypogaea). For this, two lines of research will be explored: the bioremediation of the herbicide imazapic and the development of bioherbicides from endophytic bacteria of weeds and the three genera. In the first line of research, the goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of enzymatic bioremediation of imazapic, a widely used herbicide in peanut cultivation. The approach involves immobilizing enzymes in agro-industrial residues (rice husk, peanut shell, and sugarcane bagasse) followed by reuse, stability, and cytotoxicity assays. Techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will be used for the detection and quantification of the metabolites generated. In the second line of research, the focus is on isolating and characterizing endophytic bacteria from weeds related to peanuts, aiming to select strains with bioherbicidal potential. Additionally, bacteria from the genera Bacillus sp., Burkholderia sp., and Pseudomonas sp. will also be evaluated in in vitro germination and wheat coleoptile assays, as well as large-scale bacterial growth tests and greenhouse assays. The combination of these approaches aims not only to reduce the environmental impacts of herbicides but also to offer effective biological alternatives for weed control, promoting more sustainable and efficient agriculture.