Within the Projeto Caatinga, one team is responsible to develop studies involving a group of microorganisms that, when in association with plant roots, improve growth and development. The Microbiology team works on researches to assess the response of native trees from Caatinga under the inoculation of beneficial bacteria and fungi.
Some of the tasks held by the Microbiology team are: collection of nodules from native species, rhizobia isolation, inoculum production, morphological and physiological characterization of rhizobia, maintenance of a bank of mycorrhiza, evaluation of the mycorrhizal colonization in plant roots, and to carry out experiments to evaluate the response of native trees to rhizobia inoculation (isolated from native species), rhizobia-based biological products recommended for Soybean and Common Beans, and mycorrhizal inoculation.
Another field studied by our team is the seed health (phytosanitary) testing, with seeds collected in mother trees and on the ground (soil). We aim to identify which microorganisms are more incident in such seeds (from the Caatinga). Chemical and biological products are also tested for its efficiency on controlling such microorganisms and their potential side effect on seed germination.
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