Detection and description of the occurrence of bacterial auxotrophy in the rhizosphere

• Grant number: 25/11381-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Simone Raposo Cotta
• Grantee: Gabriel de Castro Theodoro
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/16079-0 - Auxotrophic enrichment in the rhizosphere: Unraveling bacterial responses to plant exudates in the context of nutrient limitation, AP.R

Abstract

Plants shape rhizospheric soil bacteria by releasing compounds, such as amino acids, thatact as nutrients or signaling molecules. This can encourage the growth of auxotrophicbacteria, which rely on these compounds due to their inability to synthesize them. Wepropose that the rhizosphere enriches these auxotrophs compared to bulk soil because ofthe abundance of amino acids. To test this, we will adopt a polyphasic approach,combining cultivation-dependent and independent techniques to analyze bacterialcommunities and their auxotrophic profiles. Additionally, we will examine plant-derivedmetabolites, including amino acids and vitamins, to understand their role in influencingbacterial communities. Through these experiments, we aim to reveal the prevalence ofauxotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere and their interactions with plants. (AU)