Browsing by Author "Pereira, Sofia I.A."
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- Iron metabolism in soybean grown in calcareous soil is influenced by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: a functional analysisPublication . Roriz, Mariana; Pereira, Sofia I.A.; Castro, Paula M.L.; Carvalho, Susana M.P.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.Iron deficiency results in severe yield losses, particularly in calcareous soils. Recent evidences suggest that biofertilizers with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may be an efficient strategy for enhancing iron (Fe) nutrition in legumes. This work aimed at evaluating the capacity of PGPR strains to enhance Fe uptake-related processes in soybean grown in calcareous soil. From the studied 24 PGPR, Sphingobium fuliginis ZR 1–6 and Pseudomonas jessenni ZR 3–8 strains were selected for the inoculation experiment based on their in vitro ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, siderophores, and organic acids, to tolerate high pH, and to reduce Fe3+. The effect of bacterial inoculation on improving Fe uptake was tested using each isolate alone or combined and through the evaluation of several morphological, physiological, and molecular parameters. Inoculation with S. fuliginis showed beneficial effects particularly at the root level by the improvement of ferric chelate activity (111%) and FRO2 expression (646%), resulting in increased Fe root content (62%). Inoculation with P. jessenii increased Zn and Mn concentrations in the trifoliates (463% and 51%, respectively), decreased Zn concentration in the roots (88%), and increased the expression of FER4 in the trifoliates (5260%). Combined inoculation of both strains fostered Fe accumulation in the trifoliates and increased the expression of IRT1 and FER4 genes, indicating an improved capacity of Fe translocation to the shoots. These results suggest that inoculation with selected PGPR strains could be effective in improving Fe uptake and accumulation in soybean grown under Fe-deficient conditions.
- Resilience of green roofs to climate changePublication . Calheiros, Cristina S. C.; Pereira, Sofia I.A.The successful management of cities growth rely in part on the maximization of the benefits delivered by the built environment while minimizing the environmental degradation. Circular and resourceful cites are the mainstream for climate change resilience. Green roofs, as a nature-based solution, contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation through the provision of several ecosystem services. Value of green roofs can be achieved at the level of environmental (e.g., air quality enhancement, carbon sequestration, biodiversity promotion stormwater management, acoustic insulation, and noise reduction), social (e.g., esthetic integration, well-being and life quality, rooftop gardens), and economic (e.g., life span extension, energetic efficiency, energy production, real-state valorization, business development) spheres. Buildup green roof resilience maybe underpinned by the selection of efficient and sustainable components for its installation. This chapter aims at giving an overview on the role of green roofs resilience to climate change, highlighting the provision of services and the mitigation and adaption capacity.
- Synergistic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria benefit maize growth under increasing soil salinityPublication . Moreira, Helena; Pereira, Sofia I.A.; Vega, Alberto; Castro, Paula M.L.; Marques, Ana P.G.C.Salt-affected soils are a major problem worldwide for crop production. Bioinocula such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can help plants to thrive in these areas but interactions between them and with soil conditions can modulate the effects on their host. To test potential synergistic effects of bioinoculants with intrinsically different functional relationships with their host in buffering the effect of saline stress, maize plants were grown under increasing soil salinity (0–5 g NaCl kg−-1 soil) and inoculated with two PGPB strains (Pseudomonas reactans EDP28, and Pantoea alli ZS 3-6), one AMF (Rhizoglomus irregulare), and with the combination of both. We then modelled biomass, ion and nutrient content in maize plants in response to increasing salt concentration and microbial inoculant treatments using generalized linear models. The impacts of the different treatments on the rhizosphere bacterial communities were also analyzed. Microbial inoculants tended to mitigate ion imbalances in plants across the gradient of NaCl, promoting maize growth and nutritional status. These effects were mostly prominent in the treatments comprising the dual inoculation (AMF and PGPB), occurring throughout the gradient of salinity in the soil. The composition of bacterial communities of the soil was not affected by microbial treatments and were mainly driven by salt exposure. The tested bioinocula are most efficient for maize growth and health when co-inoculated, increasing the content of K+ accompanied by an effective decrease of Na+ in plant tissues. Moreover, synergistic effects potentially contribute to expanding crop production to otherwise unproductive soils. Results suggest that the combination of AMF and PGPB leads to interactions that may have a potential role in alleviating the stress and improve crop productivity in salt-affected soils.