Bacteria from Brazil's semi-arid soils for the development of drought-resistant SynCom-plant systems

• Grant number: 25/20653-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2026
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Dini Andreote
• Grantee: Danilo Ferreira da Silva
• Supervisor: Victor J Carrion Bravo
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/16775-3 - Gene expression in Glycine max as a response to water stress under different microbiomes of drylands soils, BP.DR

Abstract

Drylands, encompassing arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions, represent nearly 40% of the global terrestrial surface and are home to over two billion people. These regions harbor highly specialized microbial communities adapted to chronic water scarcity, offering unique opportunities to enhance crop performance under climate-induced stress conditions. Among them, the Caatinga biome in Brazil stands out as a reservoir of microbial diversity with functional traits relevant to drought adaptation. This project aims to functionally characterize key bacterial taxa within SynComs assembled from drought-resilient soils of the Caatinga. Building on previous work evaluating the effects of microbiome coalescence on plant physiology and gene expression, the current study will focus on identifying specific bacterial isolates with genomic and ecological attributes linked to drought stress mitigation in plants. The project will involve the isolation of bacterial strains using selective media simulating osmotic stress, followed by genome sequencing and annotation to identify genes associated with osmolyte biosynthesis, exopolysaccharide production, and phytohormone modulation. Synthetic communities will be assembled based on strain compatibility and functional complementarity, and their impact on plant performance will be evaluated under controlled water-deficit conditions. Integrative analyses combining microbial genomics, metatranscriptomics of rhizosphere soil, and plant transcriptomics will be conducted to uncover the mechanistic basis of enhanced drought tolerance. By pinpointing key microbial functions and taxa that drive beneficial plant responses, this research contributes to the rational development of next-generation microbial inoculants. It aligns with global efforts to improve agricultural sustainability and resilience in the face of climate variability, offering a science-based framework for harnessing native microbial biodiversity in drylands. (AU)