Resultados da busca
65 items found for ""
- Antonio Costa de Oliveira, researcher at INCT PlantStress Biotech, participated in international scientific events
< Back Antonio Costa de Oliveira, researcher at INCT PlantStress Biotech, participated in international scientific events Professor Antonio Costa de Oliveira (UFPEL), a member of the INCT PlantStress Biotech, attended the 4th BIOIBEROAMERICA conference in Monterrey, Mexico, from September 3 to 6, 2024. He delivered a keynote lecture titled Climate Change Ready Rice: Lessons from Abiotic Stresses . The meeting was organized by FIAMBIOT (Federación Iberoamericana de Biotecnología), which includes the Brazilian Society of Biotechnology (SBBIOTEC) as a member. The event attracted approximately 250 participants from various countries in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, fostering discussions on advancing biotechnology for a sustainable future. Following this, Professor Costa de Oliveira participated in the ISRFG2024 (International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics) in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, from September 9 to 11, 2024. He presented a talk and a poster on The Collection and Characterization of Wild Rice in Brazil . This symposium also focused on sustainability and strategies for feeding the growing population without compromising the planet's health.
- CAPES Thesis Award 2021
< Back CAPES Thesis Award 2021 Tese premiada pela Capes valida sistema de melhoramento por edição de genoma e apresenta novo protocolo para transformação da soja O interesse pela genética de plantas sempre conduziu a vida acadêmica do bioquímico Bruno Paes de Melo, que se dedicou a ela na graduação na UFV, como bolsista de iniciação científica, no mestrado e no doutorado, esses realizados no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Aplicada . Foi em sua última experiência como estudante da UFV que Bruno desenvolveu a tese Transcriptional modulation and characterization of plant-specific transacting factors , defendida em 2020. O trabalho rendeu a ele destaque na 16ª edição do Prêmio Capes de Tese, cujo resultado foi divulgado no dia 3 de setembro. Orientada pela professora Elizabeth Pacheco Batista Fontes – sua orientadora desde a iniciação científica -, a tese ficou entre as 49 selecionadas das 1.376 avaliadas de todo o país. Na pesquisa premiada pela Capes na área de Ciências Agrárias I, Bruno explorou a funcionalidade de alguns fatores de transcrição (reguladores centrais da expressão gênica nas células) em plantas submetidas a diferentes situações de estresse. Sua exploração acabou revelando à comunidade científica novos alvos e, consequentemente, novas metodologias para o melhoramento genético moderno ou biotecnológico. Com seu estudo, o pesquisador apresentou maneiras inovadoras de se fazer plantas com performances melhores diante de diferentes desafios. A tese tem quatro capítulos que Bruno define como “diferentes entre si, mas com dois focos”: a validação de um sistema de melhoramento biotecnológico por edição de genoma e a otimização de um protocolo para transformação genética da soja e a caracterização de novos genes-alvo para esse fim. No que diz respeito à validação do sistema de melhoramento, a proposta do Bruno foi explorar a funcionalidade de AREB-1, um fator de transcrição, da planta do gênero Arabidopsis , que descende de um ancestral comum de algumas hortaliças, como a couve e a mostarda. A opção em explorar a Arabidopsis se deu pelo fato de que, no universo das plantas, ela é considerada modelo, já que tem todo um genoma muito bem descrito e as vias metabólicas e de sinalização celular bem elucidadas. “É uma planta em que a transformação genética é muito fácil”, explica Bruno. Segundo ele, quando se faz um trabalho em Arabidopsis , sabe-se o que esperar. “Como eu precisava testar uma nova estratégia, isso precisaria ser feito num sistema que eu conhecesse a resposta, para saber se havia ou não dado certo”. Bruno descreveu uma nova estratégia de modulação da transcrição de AREB-1 por CRISPR/dCas9 em Arabidopsis para tolerância à seca. O AREB-1 é extensivamente caracterizado nas adaptações fisiológicas ao estresse hídrico. Ou seja, a função desse gene é conferir à planta maior tolerância ao estresse hídrico. Assim, plantas que têm a expressão deste gene aumentada são mais tolerantes à seca. Em sua pesquisa, Bruno aumentou a transcrição deste gene utilizando CRISPR/dCas9, uma estratégia de modulação transcricional baseada em edição de genoma que ainda é muito nova, tendo despontado na biotecnologia há menos de 10 anos. Ele fez isso a partir de uma alteração na cromatina (complexo de DNA e proteínas que se encontra dentro do núcleo celular) de modo a facilitar o acesso da maquinaria de transcrição ao local onde o gene AREB-1 se encontra. Essa abordagem usada para modular a expressão de um gene foi inovadora. O pesquisador explica que, geralmente, quando se quer fazer a modulação de um gene ou se coloca um promotor de vírus, que fica expressando todo o tempo na planta, ou se faz um silenciamento para inibir aquele gene. “O que fiz foi uma alteração do genoma em nível estrutural. Eu alterei a forma do genoma e isso fez com que a expressão desse gene aumentasse”, conta o pesquisador. Por isso, justifica, “escolhi a Arabidopsis , porque se a expressão do gene aumentasse, eu já sabia tudo o que iria acontecer com a planta”. Segundo Bruno, a superexpressão do gene AREB-1 mediada por CRISPR promoveu uma melhora no desempenho fisiológico das plantas transgênicas em 30 dias de privação de água. Os resultados revelam, portanto, uma estratégia molecular que permite a ativação racional de genes endógenos em plantas por meio de modulação da atividade da cromatina direcionada a um interesse agronômico. “Com essa edição do genoma, eu consegui obter plantas que, mesmo em déficit severo de água, tiveram boa performance, ou seja, não morreram e permaneceram verdes e produtivas. Eu validei uma estratégia que pode ser aplicada em grandes e quaisquer culturas, como a soja. A estratégia é universal”. Funções da família NAC na soja Durante o doutorado, Bruno também aprofundou seus estudos em fatores de transcrição NAC, genes que ele pesquisa desde 2013, que foi, inclusive, objeto de sua dissertação de mestrado. NAC é uma superfamília com 180 membros de genes, número atualizado em sua pesquisa de mestrado. Até então, apenas 132 genes eram descritos como pertencentes à família NAC na soja. Na pesquisa premiada pela Capes, o objetivo foi explorar as funções de dois genes NAC no controle de respostas a estresses e à senescência na soja. A proposta era elencar possíveis alvos para o melhoramento molecular, pois a partir do momento em que se conhece o gene e a função dele, se sabe como manipulá-lo dentro da planta com as características que se deseja. Bruno conta que os fatores de transcrição da família NAC têm o que se chama de plasticidade funcional: “alguns deles conferem tolerância a estresses múltiplos”. Tal característica permitiu que o pesquisador explorasse genes que tinham papéis contrastantes: um deles conferia resistência ou tolerância a vários tipos de estresse e atenuava a senescência e outro fazia justamente o contrário, aumentava a suscetibilidade da planta a estes mesmos estresses e acelerava a senescência. Bruno fez a transformação de Arabidopsis com estes genes para conferir se o efeito sobre a planta era o que se desejava para uma característica agronômica, visando transformar a soja. “Como a transformação da soja é difícil, o que se constitui num aspecto limitante para o seu melhoramento, eu desenvolvi um protocolo para facilitar a transformação desta planta e melhorar a eficiência deste processo”, conta o pesquisador. Para isso, ele combinou duas técnicas na metodologia para a transformação genética da soja: a biolística (transferência direta de DNA em uma célula para criação de organismos transgênicos) e a transformação mediada por Agrobacterium tumefaciens (bactéria do solo bastante utilizada na geração de plantas transgênicas). Na prática, Bruno fez microferidas em células do eixo embrionário da soja aumentando a infectividade da bactéria, que é capaz de transferir um DNA exógeno para a planta. Em geral, os protocolos atuais que empregam a Agrobacterium tumefaciens ou a biolística exibem baixa eficiência e exigem etapas sucessivas de cultivo e regeneração de plantas in vitro , com extensas perdas por contaminação e escurecimento do tecido. No protocolo desenvolvido por Bruno, a soja é transformada e regenerada in vitro em um único passo, reduzindo, assim, o tempo de geração das plantas transgênicas. De acordo com o pesquisador, num melhoramento convencional, este tempo pode chegar a até 12 meses. Com o seu protocolo, o processo de regeneração da soja é finalizado em até seis semanas. Além disso, a alta capacidade regenerativa do eixo embrionário permite alongamento do caule, desenvolvimento radicular e regeneração da planta. Durante a sua investigação, Bruno também identificou 32 novos genes NAC putativos, ou seja, genes que, apesar de terem as mesmas características dos NAC já descritos, não podem ser assim considerados plenamente pelo fato de que nem todos foram validados. Com essa descoberta, o pesquisador atualizou a superfamília no genoma da soja que já tinha 180 membros. “Já era uma família bem descrita, com muitos membros já caracterizados. Com a descoberta de 32 novos genes-alvo, abrem-se mais possibilidades para o melhoramento biotecnológico explorar suas diferentes funções na resistência a estresses específicos”. Importância O pesquisador que atua numa multinacional do mercado de sementes lembra que, atualmente, grande parte das cultivares produzidas no Brasil é transgênica. Em sua opinião, os transgênicos vieram para, dentre outras possibilidades, melhorar a produção, a resistência à praga e o desempenho das plantas, especialmente em momentos como o que estamos vivendo de grandes mudanças climáticas. Por essa razão, considera que seu trabalho traz uma importante contribuição à agricultura. “Estou mostrando novos métodos de se fazer transgênicos e um melhoramento muito mais associado à biotecnologia do que ao melhoramento clássico”. Nesse último, de acordo com Bruno, se cruza, por exemplo, uma planta resistente com uma outra que produz muito para se obter uma planta resistente e produtiva. “Agora, com o melhoramento biotecnológico, se consegue colocar as duas características ao mesmo tempo na planta”. A pesquisa de Bruno teve o apoio da Capes e foi realizada no Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas do Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária (Bioagro) da UFV. Esse laboratório é associado ao Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) em Interações Planta-Praga, coordenado pela professora Elizabeth Fontes. O estudo gerou a publicação de artigos em periódicos importantes, dentre eles a Frontiers in Plant Science, referência na área de biologia molecular de plantas, e a Scientific Reports, que integra o grupo Nature. Além disso, virou capítulo de livros e recebeu menção honrosa no International Symposium on Plant Molecular Genetics, promovido pela Sociedade Brasileira de Genética. Source: UFV and CAPES
- Dr. Marcio Alves-Ferreira talked about his latest paper in Plant Biology 2022 Conference
< Back Dr. Marcio Alves-Ferreira talked about his latest paper in Plant Biology 2022 Conference From Plant Biology 2022: Plants vs Insects Session Recap At Plant Biology 2022, a varied group of speakers presented the latest advances from one of the oldest wars that takes place in our world: Plants versus insects, during the “Plants Versus Insects” concurrent symposium on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Attendees heard news from multiple front lines: cotton, cowpea, and Arabidopsis, and I served as a correspondent to share the details of this gathering with the global plant science community. Let’s go! Cotton vs Cotton Boll Weevil During the first talk, Chair Dr. Marcio Alves-Ferreira , from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, talked about his latest paper in Current Plant Biology . They aimed to identify molecular players mediating the defense response of cotton ( Gossypium spp) to the Cotton Boll Weevil (CBW, Anthonomus grandis ), an insect pest that attacks reproductive structures causing severe loss in cotton fiber production. Plants identify herbivores through Herbivore-Associated Molecular Patterns (HAMPs), such as molecules present in insect oral secretions (a combination of regurgitated material from the gut and saliva). HAMPs are recognized by membrane receptors that can activate Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAKPs), that participate in the transduction of the signal leading to the establishment of the defense response (see Snoeck et al., 2022 ). The series of events that take place from the recognition of patterns to the set-up of the inducible defenses is collectively known as Pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). PTI has been deeply studied in the interaction between plants and pathogens (for more information and the newest research on the topic, see more from Plant Biology 2022 via Plant Biology EXTENDED, coming soon!). Dr. Alves-Ferreira and collaborators found that different CBW extracts, such as oral secretions or egg extracts, were able to activate MAPKs in cotton and in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, the activation of MAPKs was independent of previously characterized receptors required for the defense against bacteria or fungus. Together, their results showed that HAMPs from CBW activate PTI, although the receptors involved remain unknown ( de Moura et al., 2022 ). Dr. Alves-Ferreira also mentioned that they are working on the analysis of a RNAseq data from cotton leaves infested with CBW in order to keep dinging in the molecular pathways behind the cotton-CBW battle. Stay alert for news! Know Your Weapons: Not All Jasmonates are the Same! The next talk was about one of my favorite topics: Jasmonates. For those who haven’t had the chance to talk to me (maybe the lucky ones, he!), jasmonates are a group of lipid-derived compounds that regulate the balance between growth and defense ( Wasternack and Feussner, 2018 ). Ariel Sorg, a PhD student from the Gilroy lab (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA), found that specific jasmonates are required for different responses, i.e., some jasmonates trigger defenses against herbivores, while others are required for growth repression. By the way, I must mention that they have designed a robot that regularly touches plants to induce stress responses. Besides being super cool, the robot could mimic signals derived from flying insects casually touching leaves. Cowpea vs Lepidoptera (with some help from Nicotiana benthamiana and Manduca sexta ) Inceptin, a HAMP present in Lepidoptera oral secretions ( Schmelz et al., 2006 ; Schmelz et al., 2007 ), enhance the expression of defense genes in cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ), such as Kunitz trypsin inhibitors (KTI). KTI are anti-insect proteins that affect the digestion of leaf tissues in the larvae guts, and therefore, are detrimental for growing. KTIs contain a variable number of cysteines that form disulfide bonds required for protein structure and stability ( Blow et al., 1974 ). PhD student Natalia Guayazan Palacios presented her work with the Steinbrenner lab (University of Washington, USA) where they designed a heterologous system to study whether the number of cysteines can also impact KTI anti-herbivore function. They expressed different versions of KTIs in N. benthamiana and performed bioassays with M. sexta . After letting the caterpillars feed on the leaves, the researchers recorded the growth of the caterpillars, and then extracted proteins from different sections of the digestive system of the insects. They followed the presence of KTIs and, as control, peroxidases (inceptin-induced defense proteins with a different activity) by western blot. Only KTIs were found in the guts, which is consistent with their anti-digestive function. Therefore, the N. benthamiana-M. sexta system can be a powerful tool to test protease inhibitors as potential direct defenses. And, with respect to the role of the cysteines in KTI activity, I think we may have interesting news soon! Plants vs Aphids vs Ladybugs To keep in line with the multiple advantages of using N. benthamiana as tool, I will continue with the talk of Dr. Georg Jander from the Boyce Thompson Institute, USA. RNA interference (RNAi) technologies are emerging as a powerful tool to control pests. They rely on engineering a plant to express a RNAi that targets insect genes needed for growth or development. However, if the RNAi is not species-specific, it may damage beneficial insects. Dr. Jander and collaborators used N. bentamiana plants expressing a RNAi against green peach aphids ( Myzus persicae ), and evaluate if the RNAi was transmitted to, and could negatively affect ladybugs ( Coccinella septempunctata ) that prey on the aphids. For those like me who love ladybugs: don’t worry! Even if RNAi was found in the ladybugs, it can be designed in a way that is only detrimental to aphids. Phew! Arabidopsis vs Aphids Finally, also belonging to the aphid world, there was the presentation of Dr. Keyan Zhu-Salzman (Texas A&M University, USA), where she explained a recent paper from her lab about how plants coordinate defenses with their daily rhythm. Circadian clock-regulated defenses allow plants to anticipate pest attacks and allocate resources at the most beneficial time of the day, thus minimizing metabolic cost. A previous report found that CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1), a well-known central circadian clock regulator, link daily cycles with defenses against Trichoplusia ni caterpillars ( Goodspeed et al., 2012 ). Dr. Zhu-Salzman and her team found that although a functional circadian clock confer resistance to green peach aphids, CCA1 over expression lines, that lack circadian rhythm, were more resistant to aphid feeding. To solve the mystery behind this apparent contradiction, they performed in-depth data mining using published transcriptomic data sets and found that CCA1 regulates indolic glucosinolates (iGS) biosynthesis. Their results showed that CCA1 has a role in both circadian dependent and independent defenses ( Lei et al., 2019 ). Source: ASPN
- INCT PlantStress Biotech research highlighted at a student meeting
< Back INCT PlantStress Biotech research highlighted at a student meeting The research carried out at the INCT PlantStress Biotech was highlighted during the XXVII Student Talent Meeting, held at Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (Cenargen), in Brasília, between August 28 and 30. Sara Vitorino da Rocha Lemes and Bruna Medeiros Pereira received the award for best work in the Biotechnology category, at undergraduate and postgraduate level, respectively. Sara Rocha is an undergraduate student in Biotechnology at the University of Brasilia (UnB) and a Scientific Initiation scholarship holder under the PIBIC/CNPq/Embrapa program, supervised by the researchers Carolina Morgante and Fatima Grossi de Sá. In her work, “Genetically modified cotton plants with reduced susceptibility to root knot nematodes and drought”, Sara presented the combined strategy of overexpressing a drought tolerance gene and silencing a vital gene of the nematode Meloidogyne incognita , using RNA interference technology, to obtain plants that are less susceptible to these two stresses, simultaneously. Bruna Medeiros, who holds a master's degree in Agronomy from UnB and is a DTI-B/CNPq scholarship holder at Embrapa Cenargen, presented the work “A trans-species approach for in-root functional validation and selection of candidate genes for resistance to phytopathogens in legumes”. Supervised by the researchers Ana Brasileiro and Patrícia Guimarães, Bruna highlighted the promising results of a system for rapid functional validation of resistance genes in the roots of soybean, peanut, chickpea, common bean, cowpea, guandu, and alfalfa. More details on this research can be found in the recent publications in the journals PlosOne and Planta and in the patent filed by the team. Bruna Medeiros and Luanna Pinheiro receiving their awards from members of the organizing committee. At the same event, the students Nayara Sabrina de Freitas Alves, a doctoral student at the Federal University of Paraná, received an honorable mention for her work “Transcriptional and translational modulation via CRISPR-Cas for soybean tolerance root knot nematodes” and Luanna Pinheiro A. F. Bezerra, a doctoral student at the Catholic University of Brasília, for her work “Soybean plants tolerant to water deficit through modulation of the stress-induced programmed cell death control pathway using CRISPR/dCas9”. The two students are supervised by the researcher Fatima Grossi de Sá. The XXVII Student Talent Meeting had 150 registered participants, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and post-doctoral students. Its objectives were to publicize the work carried out at Embrapa Cenargen, in the thematic areas of Biotechnology, Biological Control, Quarantine and Genetic Resources, and to provide scientific incentives for young students and scholarship holders. Text: Carolina Morgante
- Events | inctplantstress
Here you can find the main events in the fields of biotechnology, agronomy and biology. Events Event Organization Scientific Events
- CGF5: nova linhagem de trigo para o cerrado, resistente ao brusone
< Back CGF5: nova linhagem de trigo para o cerrado, resistente ao brusone O Centro de Genômica e Fitomelhoramento da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), em colaboração com o Programa Trigo da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), desenvolveu a linhagem de trigo CGF5, adaptada para o Cerrado. Testada em condições de sequeiro e irrigação, a CGF5 apresentou alta produtividade e moderada resistência à brusone, uma doença fúngica que pode causar perdas significativas na produção. A resistência à brusone é de extrema importância, pois essa doença é responsável por grandes prejuízos nas lavouras de trigo, especialmente em regiões com clima quente e úmido, como o Cerrado. A capacidade da CGF5 de tolerar a brusone contribui para a estabilidade da produção e a segurança alimentar. Com os ensaios de Valor de Cultivo e Uso (VCU) finalizados, o processo de registro e proteção da cultivar está em andamento. Os estudos, coordenados pelos professores Antonio Costa de Oliveira (UFPel) e Maicon Nardino (UFV), estão em desenvolvimento desde 2022. Na foto em destaque, vemos a linhagem CGF5 em uma parcela de produção de sementes no Departamento de Agronomia da UFV. Na foto em destaque, no primeiro plano, a linhagem CGF5 em parcela de produção de sementes nas dependências do Departamento de Agronomia da UFV.
- INCT PlantStress Biotech Coordinator Receives World’s Top Entomology Award
< Back INCT PlantStress Biotech Coordinator Receives World’s Top Entomology Award The coordinator of the INCT PlantStress Biotech, Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa, was awarded the prestigious researcher Certificate of Distinction by the Council of the International Congress of Entomology on August 25 in Kyoto, Japan. The esteemed accolade is recognized as the highest honor in entomology worldwide and was presented during the XXVII International Congress of Entomology (ICE 2024). This distinguished award is bestowed every four years to researchers or research groups that have made remarkable contributions to advancing the understanding of entomology. Dr. Grossi-de-Sa’s recognition highlights her profound impact on the field, showcasing her innovative research and unwavering commitment to overcoming critical challenges in biotechnology pest control. As a leader in research, Dr. Grossi-de-Sa utilizes advanced genetic engineering technologies, including RNA interference (RNAi) and genome editing, to develop plants resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Her research focuses on creating transgenic cotton plants that withstand the cotton boll weevil, significantly benefiting the Brazilian cotton industry. Additionally, she is developing genetically modified soybean and cotton crops resistant to caterpillars, root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp), and tolerant to drought.
- INCT PlantStress Biotech | Improving Agriculture | Brasília - DF
The INCT PlantStress Biotech develops technologies to overcome climatic barriers. The INCT network is formed by national and international research groups, developing biotechnological assets applied to hidric stress and pest control relevant crops for agribusiness. PlantStress Biotech INCT Biotechnological Assets Applied to Drought and Pests in Relevant Crops for Agribusiness About Us Main biotic and abiotic stresses we work Boll weevil Anthomonus grandis Nematode Meloidogyne incognita Meloidogyne javanica Drought Drought tolerance genes Caterpillars Helicoverpa armigera Spodoptera frugiperda What We Do The National Institute of Science and Technology, PlantStress Biotech INCT, integrates various Brazilian research groups and international partners, experts in plant physiology, transcriptomic, epigenetic, proteomic, bioinformatic and functional genomics analyses. The integrative research group represents a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional network with national and international excellence to generate innovative biotechnologies applied to corn, soybean and cotton focused on the tolerance to deficit hydric and pest control (Meloidogyne spp, H. armigera and S. frugiperda ). The project includes bioprospection, isolation, characterization, and functional validation of genes/molecules involved in plant pest resistance and drought tolerance. Read More Our Goals Focusing on agribusiness, the INCT PlantStress Biotech has significantly contributed to boosting productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness in the sector. Its research spans from improvements in agricultural practices to the development of innovative technologies. Beyond drought stress and pest control, the generated biotechnological assets hold the potential to influence other critical traits like seed and fruit quality, nutritional value enhancement, and more. This holistic approach positions the INCT as a cornerstone for the advancement of the Brazilian agribusiness, promising a future where innovation and sustainability coalesce for the benefit of society at large. Read More A high-impact program for Brazilian Agriculture 400+ Published Scientific Papers 30+ Researchers Involved 24+ Dev eloped Paten ts 10 Brazilian Research Units 25 Abroad Instituition 60+ Master's 80+ Ph.Ds trained NEWS INCT PlantStress Biotech research shines at PAG32. 28/01/2024 Read Ver mais O Tomate Roxo GM - rico em antocioninas 28/01/2024 Read Ver mais INCT PlantStress Biotech: Disseminating Knowledge in Educational Institutions 15/10/2024 Read Ver mais Read All SCIENTIFIC EVENTS Simpósio Brasileiro de Genética Molecular de Plantas 27 - 30 May 2025 More information 8th Brazilian Biotechnology Congress 19 - 22 October 2025 More information 4th Bio Iberoamérica 3-6 September 2024 More information See All WHERE ARE WE? Associate laboratories Partnerships PlantStress Biotech INCT Contact
- Underwater 'breathing' plants could be key to stress-resistant crops
< Back Underwater 'breathing' plants could be key to stress-resistant crops Wetland plants have a high tolerance against flooding due to the formation of "lysigenous aerenchyma," air channels that help transfer gases to the submerged roots. These channels also help the plant withstand drought and nutrient deficiency. Now, scientists from Japan investigate the underlying mechanism of aerenchyma formation to understand the phenomenon better, opening doors to the development of crops that are resilient against extreme weather changes. Floods and droughts are the main environmental disasters responsible for most crop failures. Aerenchyma formation can help crops cope with these environmental stresses. However, it is not commonly observed in non-wetland species like wheat and maize, which are staple food crops in certain areas of the world. Researchers Takaki Yamauchi and Mikio Nakazono from Nagoya University, Japan, have surveyed literature on the topic to get a concrete overview of the various factors involved in aerenchyma formation. "If we can genetically control the timing and amount of lysigenous aerenchyma formation in roots of all agronomically important crops, such as maize, wheat and soybean, the global crop production loss could be dramatically reduced," says Dr. Nakazono. Dr. Yamauchi and Dr. Nakazono suggest imagining the lysigenous aerenchyma to a snorkel used to breathe underwater. During flooding, the roots get cut off from oxygen and other vital gases needed for survival. In response, the plant creates air pathways connecting the submerged regions of the plant to the parts above water. Similar to a snorkel, these pathways help the plant "breathe" by transporting gases to the submerged roots. Moreover, the air channels reduce the energy requirement for the breathing process and can help the plant conserve energy during extreme conditions of drought or nutrient deficit. The researchers found that a phytohormone called "auxin" is required for the formation of aerenchyma during normal root growth, and identified two factors leading to the induction of aerenchyma formation in response to flooding. The phenomenon begins when the roots are submerged underwater in aerobic conditions. The restrictions to gas exchange cause ethylene to accumulate in the roots, which encourage the production of respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH) -- an enzyme responsible for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. As it turns out, the released ROS triggers cell death in the tissues, forming cavities for the passage of gases. The RBOH can also be activated by the presence of calcium (Ca2+) ions that are transported from the apoplast (water pathways). Certain plants have calcium-dependent protein kinases that use Ca2+ to add phosphates to the RBOH, stimulating it to produce ROS. This effect occurs at later stages as the plants gradually experience oxygen-deficient conditions after prolonged underwater submersion. While aerenchyma is mostly associated with plants that have adapted to soils with high water content, it can also develop in upland plants under drought and nutrient deficiency. Low concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, essential nutrients required for plant growth, was found to increase the ethylene sensitivity, stimulating the formation of aerenchyma. Moreover, ethylene was also a common factor in triggering aerenchyma in maize, offering a way to improve the crop's resilience. "The increase in ethylene sensitivity could be an effective strategy to stimulate aerenchyma formation in the absence of restricted gas diffusion," speculates Dr. Yamauchi. While the mechanism behind aerenchyma formation remains uncertain, suggesting the need for further research, the findings of this study open up the possibility of improving crop resilience and paving the way for better food security in the wake of climate change. The new paper has been based on the following two papers: "Fine control of aerenchyma and lateral root development through AUX/IAA- and ARF-dependent auxin signaling." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , 116, 2019, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1907181116 "An NADPH oxidase RBOH functions in rice roots during lysigenous aerenchyma formation under oxygen-deficient conditions." The Plant Cell , 29, 2017, DOI: 10.1105/tpc.16.00976 Funding Information: This study was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency PRESTO grants JPMJPR17Q8 to T.Y. and Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A) (MEXT KAKENHI grant JP20H05912) to M.N. Source: Materials provided by Nagoya University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
- The 2023 Annual LIMPP Workshop: Focus on Student Engagement
< Back The 2023 Annual LIMPP Workshop: Focus on Student Engagement The LIMPP Workshop takes place annually and aims to train students and discuss results with them. The LIMPP Workshop , an annual event organized by the Laboratory of Molecular Plant-Pest Interactions of Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Embrapa Cenargen) , centered its 2023 edition on students engagement , emphasizing their training and active participation in the discussion of research outcomes . Held on November 17 th and 20 th, the LIMPP Workshop provided a platform for m aster’s and undergraduate students, and technical professionals to present the progress and outcomes of their projects conducted throughout 2023. This year's workshop was skilfully coordinated by Master's student Náttany Souza Costa and Undergraduate student Sara Rocha. Their leadership was complemented by the guidance of postdoctoral researcher Francisco Humberto Henrique and researcher Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa. As well as presenting the results, the workshop was designed to equip students with essential presentation skills, including slide preparation and the ability to respond to questions from both a review panel and the attending audience. A total of 12 engaging presentations took place over the two days of the event. Below are the photographs capturing moments from each presentation: The master's students Gabriele Louise Trindade Araújo and Náttany Souza Costa. The technical training André Campos Soares and Mateus Meira dos Santos presenting your results in the LIMPP Workshop. The master's students Naiara Cordeiro Santos and João Pedro Abreu Sousa.The technical training Mariana Hildebrand and Gustavo Ruffo presenting your results in the LIMPP Workshop. The master's students Julia Moura do Rosário Santana and Lays Antunes Teixeira. The technical training Raíre Cavalcante and undergraduate student Sara Rocha presenting your results in the LIMPP Workshop.
- Genetic engineering can have a positive effect on the climate
< Back Genetic engineering can have a positive effect on the climate Agriculture accounts for around 25 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. A large share of these emissions is due to livestock production and fertilizer use. However, more than one-third of agriculture's emissions is caused by land-use change, especially the conversion of forests and other nature reserves to agricultural land in order to satisfy the rising global demand for food and feed. "Using better technologies to increase crop yields on the land already cultivated could reduce this land-use change and the associated emissions," says study author Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim, Director of the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn. Certain types of genetically modified crops -- such as GM maize and soybean -- are widely grown in other parts of the world, but hardly in Europe. "The main reasons are public acceptance issues and political hurdles," says Qaim. In the new study, he and his colleagues from the Breakthrough Institute used global agricultural data and estimates of the yield effects of GM crops to model how increased technology adoption in the EU would affect production, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions. The estimates suggest that more widespread use of genetically modified crops in the EU could prevent the release of 33 million tons of CO2 equivalents, which corresponds to 7.5 percent of the EU's total annual greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Higher yields in the EU would have a global effect "Most of these positive climate effects are attributable to reduced land-use change," says Dr. Emma Kovak from the Breakthrough Institute, the study's first author. The conclusion of the research team: "The EU imports a lot of maize and soybean from Brazil, where the expansion of agricultural land contributes to tropical deforestation. Higher yields in the EU could reduce some of these imports and thus help preserve the Amazon rainforest." The authors stress that in their analysis they only look at already-existing genetically modified crops. "New genomic breeding technologies are currently being used to develop a wide range of new crop applications that could lead to additional climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits in the future," says Matin Qaim. The agricultural economist is a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Sustainable Futures" and Cluster of Excellence "PhenoRob -- Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production" at the University of Bonn. Source: Materials provided by University of Bonn . Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Emma Kovak, Dan Blaustein-Rejto, Matin Qaim. Genetically modified crops support climate change mitigation . Trends in Plant Science , 2022; DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.004
- Pesquisa do INCT PlantStress Biotech é destaque em encontro estudantil
< Back Pesquisa do INCT PlantStress Biotech é destaque em encontro estudantil A pesquisa realizada no INCT PlantStress Biotech foi destaque durante o XXVII Encontro do Talento Estudantil, ocorrido na Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (Cenargen), em Brasília, entre 28 e 30 de agosto. Sara Vitorino da Rocha Lemes e Bruna Medeiros Pereira receberam a premiação de melhor trabalho na categoria Biotecnologia, em nível de graduação e pós-graduação, respectivamente. Sara Rocha é estudante de graduação em Biotecnologia na Universidade de Brasília (UnB) e bolsista de Iniciação Científica do programa PIBIC/CNPq/Embrapa, sob orientação das pesquisadoras Carolina Morgante e Fatima Grossi de Sá. Em seu trabalho, “Plantas de algodão geneticamente modificadas com redução da suscetibilidade a nematoides formadores de galhas e à seca”, Sara apresentou a estratégia combinada de superexpressão de um gene de tolerância à seca e de silenciamento de um gene vital do nematoide Meloidogyne incognita , usando a tecnologia do RNA interferente, para a obtenção de plantas menos suscetíveis a esses dois estresses, simultaneamente. Já Bruna Medeiros, mestre em Agronomia pela UnB e bolsista DTI-B/CNPq na Embrapa Cenargen, apresentou o trabalho “Uma abordagem trans-espécies para validação funcional in root e seleção de genes candidatos para resistência a fitopatógenos em leguminosas”. Sob orientação das pesquisadoras Ana Brasileiro e Patrícia Guimarães, Bruna destacou os resultados promissores de um sistema para rápida validação funcional de genes de resistência em raízes de soja, amendoim, grão de bico, feijão comum, feijão caupi, guandu e alfafa. Mais detalhes sobre esta pesquisa podem ser acessados nas recentes publicações nos periódicos PlosOne e Planta e na patente depositada pela equipe. As bolsistas Bruna Medeiros e Luanna Pinheiro recebendo a premiação de membros da comissão organizadora. Neste mesmo evento, receberam menção honrosa as estudantes Nayara Sabrina de Freitas Alves, doutoranda na Universidade Federal do Paraná, pelo trabalho “Modulação transcricional e traducional via CRISPR-Cas visando a tolerância da soja à nematoides de galhas” e Luanna Pinheiro A. F. Bezerra, doutoranda na Universidade Católica de Brasília, pelo trabalho “Plantas de soja tolerantes ao déficit hídrico por meio da modulação da via de controle de morte celular programada induzida por estresses utilizando CRISPR/dCas9”. As duas estudantes são orientadas pela pesquisadora Dra. Maria Fátima Grossi de Sá. O XXVII Encontro do Talento Estudantil contou com 150 participantes inscritos, entre estudantes de graduação, pós-graduação e pós-doutores. Teve como objetivos a divulgação dos trabalhos realizados na Embrapa Cenargen nas áreas temáticas de Biotecnologia; Controle Biológico, Quarentena e Recursos Genéticos e o incentivo científico a jovens estudantes e bolsistas. Texto: Dra. Carolina Morgante