Characterization of the chemical and biological interactions between Bacillus spp. and citrus plants and their impacts on growth promotion and disease resistance

• Grant number: 25/04102-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Taicia Pacheco Fill
• Grantee: Maria Clara Santana Aguiar
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/02992-0 - Deciphering the role of secondary metabolites in the chemical interaction between phytopathogens and the citrus host, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

Agriculture faces the challenge of feeding a growing global population while minimizing the impact of climate change on both the productivity and quality of the food produced. One example is the citrus industry, which has experienced significant losses in fruit quality due to prolonged droughts and increased disease incidence. To meet this challenge, sustainable agricultural strategies are essential, particularly those that enhance plant resistance and resilience. Biostimulants, such as those derived from microbial sources, have the potential to enhance plant growth and increase resistance to disease and environmental stresses. This proposal aims to evaluate the biostimulant effects of Bacillus spp. strains on the growth and development of Citrus sinensis plants. To achieve this, this study will be conducted in two phases: (i) development of controlled release formulations of Bacillus spp. for soil application, and (ii) application of these formulations to plants and evaluation of their influence on rhizosphere microbiota and plant metabolic pathways under both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Molecular and biological modulations will be monitored using metabolomics and metagenomics tools. The data obtained will be used to interpret the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between microbial biostimulants, the host plant and the associated rhizosphere. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for the development of more sustainable and efficient strategies for citrus production.