Researchers supported by FAPESP announced in the magazine Scientific Data an unprecedented and comprehensive set of data on microorganisms associated with family plants Velloziaceae in the Brazilian rock fields. More than 257,000 bacteria and archaeies were identified – in one of the greatest efforts ever made of characterization of the species of species of Velloziaincluding various plant tissues of four different species, soils and seasons.
Genetic data and its metadata are available on open access platforms: Jgi Gold , Genbank of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and European Nucleotide Archive (ENA). This information should boost research on plant-micro-torganism interactions and inspire biotechnological solutions for agriculture in climate change scenarios.
The study took place within the Genomic Research Center applied to Climate Change (GCCRC), an Engineering Research Center (CPE ) consisting of FAPESP and Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa) at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp).
The rupestrian fields are singular ecosystems in central Brazil, characterized by extreme conditions, such as poor nutrient soils and severe drought periods. In this challenging environment, family plants Velloziaceae – Many of them exclusive from these places – have developed distinct adaptive strategies to deal with water scarcity. There are species of resurgent velózias, which tolerate desiccation and rehydrate after rain. Others are always green, keeping hydrated even during drought. The study investigated two resurgent species, Vellozia Nivea and Vellozia Tubifloraand two always green, Vellozia Intermedia and Vellozia Peripherica.
“When we think of the velózia strategies to deal with drought, we realize that it would be important to look beyond the plant itself and also investigate the microorganisms associated with it – both on the surface of the tissues and those living inside. We believe that this interaction can play a key role in adapting species to such extreme conditions,” explains Isabel Gerhardt, the main researcher of GCCRC and Embrapa Digital Agriculture, besides being co -author of the article.
According to Barbara Biazotti, PhD student at GCCRC who also signs the paperthe work is pioneering in studying microbial communities – especially bacteria – related to different drought tolerance strategies. “By investigating the microorganisms associated with Velloziawe identified an excellent opportunity to explore the rich microbial diversity of Brazil, with valuable potential for the development of new technologies and agriculture products, ”he says.
The article describes how scientists sequenced 374 samples of leaves, dry sheaths, aerial and underground roots, besides the soil. The focus was to map microbial diversity in each of these parts. “We have made a comprehensive sample effort to identify all the bacteria present in the different parts of the velózias and the soil,” explains Otávio Pinto, GCCRC bioinformata. The researchers also performed metagenomic soil analysis at different periods (rainy and dry), considering both adaptive strategies of plants.
The results suggest that there are over 257,000 different bacteria in the Velózias microenvironment. “Part of this high number of identified microorganisms is also the result of our comprehensive sample effort, by collecting material from different parts of the four species and at different times of the year,” adds Gerhardt.
The full description of seasonal profiles of bacteria associated with velodies will make it possible to investigate whether there are significant differences between dry and rainy periods, or between always-green and resurgent species. This is the next step of GCCRC scientists.
Open Science and Database
The study was published in the “data descriptor” format, which prioritizes detailed information sharing for broad use by the scientific community. “Our goal was to make data available in an organized manner, in an internationally recognized standard and in an open repository, so that other researchers can test their hypotheses and comparisons between different studies,” explains Ricardo Dante, the main researcher of GCCRC, Embrapa Digital Agriculture and author of the article.
“The broad spread of these data can benefit not only ecology and microbiology, but also applied studies such as conservation strategies and biotechnology for soil management in arid conditions,” concludes Gerhardt.
The data set is available for public access, allowing researchers from various areas to exploit it and contribute to the understanding of plant adaptations and microorganisms in the rock fields.
Phosphorus capture in extreme environments
In addition to sheltering a flora highly adapted to water scarcity, the rock fields are also habitat for bacteria capable of making scarce nutrients more available for plants. In previous studyGCCRC researchers identified that microorganisms associated with the roots of species of the Velloziaceae family (Vellozia Epidendroids and Barbacenia Macrantha) have more genes related to phosphorus solubilization compared to other plant and environments species. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant survival, but difficult to access in highly weathering tropical soils (Read more at: agency.fapep.br/40344).
These bacteria act as silent allies of plants, transforming insoluble compounds of phosphorus into absorbable forms, which can be crucial to the persistence of vegetation in environments with poor nutrient soils. Knowledge of these interactions can, in the future, contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture technologies, such as biofertilizers that increase the efficiency of phosphorus use in agricultural crops.
The article “Seasonal Bacterial Profiles of Vellozia With Distinct Dought adaptations in the megadiverssis fields rupestris ” can be read in: www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-04984-z .
*With information from Paula Drummond, from GCCRC.
This content was originally published in scientists map 257,000 bacteria in rocket field plants on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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