Bioprospecção de bactérias promotoras de crescimento vegetal e controle biológico de Fusarium sp. na região sul do Brasil

Abstract

Plants and bacteria coevolve and continuously interact, establishing symbiotic relationships that enhance nutrient uptake and plant protection through the activity of beneficial microorganisms, such as plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). These bacteria produce bioactive compounds that increase plant tolerance to stress and promote plant growth through both direct and indirect mechanisms, including pathogen suppression. Such characteristics enable the development of biofertilizers and biopesticides as sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical inputs. Within this context, this study evaluates the potential of plant growth– promoting bacteria as multifunctional bioinputs by investigating their ability to solubilize phosphorus and potassium, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and exert biological control against Fusarium sp. in Southern Brazil. The research also identifies the predominant bacterial genera and species using mass spectrometry techniques and bioprospecting approaches, in addition to characterizing metabolic profiles associated with plant growth promotion. The results demonstrate a high potential of isolates belonging to the genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus, as well as promising performance of less explored species from the genera Microbacterium and Nocardioides. These findings highlight the importance of soil microorganism bioprospecting for the development of innovative and sustainable agricultural bioinputs.