Research reveals use of bacterial microorganisms against sugarcane diseases

By Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages

Research carried out at the Agronomic Institute (IAC-APTA) of São Paulo has revealed the use of microorganisms against sugarcane diseases. 

The investigation analyzed bacteria and the Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota) in plant seedlings to identify and characterize the compounds that may favor the development of the plant and control of pathogens.

The seedlings treated with these beneficial microorganisms, mainly bacterial isolates of the species Pseudomonas putida, had an increase in biomass production of up to 80% observed after 45 days of transplantation. 

“The difference in the growth of the plant that interacted with the bacteria is visible to the naked eye,” stated researcher Matheus Aparecido Pereira Cipriano.

With this, in addition to better nutrition, the plants have become more resistant to the attacks of fungi such as Colletotrichum falcatum, which cause the disease red rot, which results in the loss of sucrose. In addition to sugarcane, these microorganisms are capable of performing multiple functions in other crops such as lettuce, coffee and citrus, as shown by the work developed by the group.

Cipriano's research, titled “Effect of Beneficial Microorganisms on Sugarcane Plant Growth, Metabolism, Biological Control and Osil Bacterial Community” won the postdoc category award at the Brazilian Bioenergy Science and Technology Conference. “I am proud to be part of the Agronomic Institute and I thank the entire team at the Microbiology Laboratory at IAC and our partners,” the winner commented.

The project is financed by the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (FAPESP), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). The research was conducted in collaboration with the IAC Center of Sugarcane, the Laboratory of Phytopathology of the Instituto Biológico and the Dutch Institute of Ecology.