Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF)
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- Advancing crop resilience and soil health through agroecological practicesPublication . Sousa, Ana S. S.; Godinho, Mariana; Oliveira, Manuel; Soares, Rui; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.
- Advancing crop resilience and soil health through agroecological practicesPublication . Sousa, Ana S. S.; Godinho, Mariana; Oliveira, Manuel; Soares, Rui; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I.A.The transition toward sustainable agriculture demands innovative approaches that can simultaneously improve crop productivity, protect natural resources, and reinforce long-term ecosystem resilience. Agroecological practices (AE), including crop diversification, conservation tillage, and integrated pest management, have emerged as essential pillars in building farming systems that balance production goals with environmental stewardship. Within this context, biofertilizers and cover crops represent two particularly promising strategies. Biofertilizers enhance nutrient availability, plant growth, and yields while reducing dependence on synthetic inputs, whereas cover crops contribute to soil fertility, water retention, and biodiversity, ultimately improving the overall sustainability of agricultural landscapes. Ongoing research and field applications across several EU-funded initiatives are advancing these strategies in diverse cropping systems, including vineyards, maize, and tomato. Projects such as ReCROP, which investigated biotechnological tools and sustainable practices to boost crop resilience and soil biodiversity in Mediterranean systems, and Sun2Fork, which examines solar-driven technologies and microbial inoculants to enhance tomato salinity tolerance in soilless cultivation, highlight the breadth of innovation underway. More recently, the VinAE project is establishing pilot vineyards across five major wine-producing countries to evaluate how AE influence grapevine performance, must quality, water use efficiency, and below- and above-ground biodiversity. In Portugal, field experiments at Quinta dos Aciprestes (Real Companhia Velha) are assessing the combined effects of hydrogels, cover crops, and microbial inoculants on grapevine performance.
- Circular economy synergies: leveraging agrifood waste for sustainable shoe materialsPublication . Silva, Sara; Ribeiro, Tânia; Silva, Isa; Marçal, Sara; Pintado, ManuelaThe shoe industry needs more sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact not only in terms of processes and generated waste but also in its dependence on virgin raw materials. To address the last, there is an unconventional synergy that can prove to be disruptive. A synergy with the agrifood sector. While cascading use and food first principles mean that priority should be given to food and feed applications, there are several wastes generated by this sector that are not suitable for either application, and these are the ones that could be of particular interest for use to reduce raw material dependence by the shoe industry. Cork is a sustainable material commonly used in the footwear sector due to its lightweight, cushioning, and thermal insulating properties. However, there is increasing interest in enhancing it by incorporating additional materials derived from industrial byproducts. Beyond sustainability benefits, these modifications can potentially improve moisture absorption, alter microbial survival, and aesthetic design features, making them ideal for shoe insoles and similar applications where comfort and hygiene are critical. Thus, this study explores the potential of incorporating diverse industrial byproducts into cork-based shoe materials to improve both functional and design aspects, contributing to sustainability strategies within the footwear industry.
- Enhancing agroecological practices in vineyards: evaluating biotechnological tools for soil health and grapevine performance in the Douro regionPublication . Sousa, Ana S. S.; Godinho, Mariana; Oliveira, Manuel; Castro, Paula; Soares, Rui; Pereira, Sofia I. A.
- Enhancing agroecological practices in vineyards: evaluating biotechnological tools for soil health and grapevine performance in the Douro regionPublication . Sousa, Ana S. S.; Godinho, Mariana; Oliveira, Manuel; Castro, Paula; Soares, Rui; Pereira, Sofia I. A.
- Enhancing maize growth and reducing irrigation needs with extracellular polymeric substances and microbial inoculantsPublication . Overall, Alexandra; Moreira, Helena; Sousa, Ana S. S.; Wilfert, Philipp; Loosdrecht, Mark van; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.Soil amendments and microbial inoculants can affect plant growth, water retention, and crop resilience. This study investigated the effects of two amendments, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and biochar, with and without bacterial inoculation, on maize (Zea mays) growth, irrigation needs, and physiological responses. Maize was cultivated in soil with 2.5 % and 5 % (w/w) of wet EPS (Kaumera®) or biochar and inoculated with a bacterial consortium consisting of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans EAPPA and Rhodococcus sp. EC35. EPS-treated plants exhibited significantly higher shoot biomass, larger stem thickness, while soil plant analysis development (SPAD) values suggest improved nutrient availability and photosynthetic efficiency. In non-inoculated plants, EPS supplementation increased shoot dry biomass by 78 % and stem thickness by 9 % compared to control plants grown without amendments. This enhancement strongly correlated with nutrient uptake, especially in plants supplemented with 5 % of EPS. Particularly, Mg and Ca concentrations increased by 195 % and 73 %, respectively, compared to non-amended controls. Inoculation further amplified these benefits, underscoring its key role in plant development and resilience. In contrast, biochar-treated plants exhibited reduced growth, suggesting stress effects at the tested addition doses. Electrolyte leakage, a key indicator of plant stress, was significantly lower in soils amended with EPS, suggesting that EPS provides a protective effect to the plants. EPS also demonstrated remarkable water retention benefits, reducing irrigation requirements by 30 % with 5 % of EPS application, compared to 9 % reduction with biochar. The use of EPS, combined with microbial inoculants, represents a sustainable agricultural strategy for optimizing maize production in water-limited environments.
- The impact of climate change-induced abiotic stresses on the nutritional quality of legume seedsPublication . Machado, Joana; Silva, Marta Nunes da; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Santos, Carla S.Legumes are integral to agricultural sustainability, offering multifaceted benefits ranging from enhanced yields to companion crops and improved soil health. Despite their recognized advantages, challenges such as technological lock-ins, limited breeding resources, and adverse environmental conditions pose threats to their cultivation. In this review, the complex interaction between climate change stressors, specifically drought, high temperatures, and elevated CO 2 levels, and their individual and combined impacts on the nutritional quality of legumes will be discussed. This topic has not been thoroughly reviewed across multiple legume crops despite its importance under climate change. Here, we critically examine the impacts of environmental stresses on the nutritional quality of legume seeds and explore the underlying regulatory mechanisms, encompassing protein, amino acids, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and bioactive compounds. Key insights indicate a general need to shift legume cultivation practices, and the necessity of field studies beyond controlled environments for results that are more readily translated to the target population of environments for legume cultivation.
- The impact of harvest year and farming methods on the nutritional value of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum)Publication . Kaur, Harsimran; Jvania, Luka; Santos, Carla S.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are naturally occurring species closely related to cultivated crops, including their wild ancestors. Despite their potential to enhance crop and dietary diversity, they remain underutilized due to limited research on their nutritional value and practical applications. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), domesticated from Hordeum spontaneum in Southwest Asia, is a key example, yet the nutritional quality of its wild ancestor remains underexplored.
- Innovative PGPB-based fertilizers as a sustainable solution to promote crop resilience in degraded soilsPublication . Sousa, Ana Sofia da Silva; Epelde, Lur; Alves, Paulo Célio; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.Background: Biofertilizers, made of non-pathogenic and living microorganisms, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), support crop growth in degraded soils as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers. They enhance nutrient availability, reduce pollution, and boost stress resilience. However, field performance and effectiveness remain inconsistent due to short shelf life, low bacterial viability, and unstable trait expression. This study aims to perform a comprehensive laboratory study by testing a novel biofertilizer carrier to ensure long-term efficiency, along with a proper selection of bacterial strains based on a greenhouse pot assay. Methods: Fifty-three representative bacteria were isolated from soil samples collected in Alentejo for assessment of traits such as P solubilization, N2 fixation, osmotic stress tolerance, and production of lytic enzymes, siderophores, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). A greenhouse pot experiment using wheat is ongoing to test the real ability of each isolate to influence plant growth under water stress conditions. A PGPB-based formulation using a new carrier, EPS, a gel-like polymer that confers protection to microbial cells, is being developed, making use of the most promising isolates. Results: Among the isolates, 30% showed the ability to solubilize P, 54.4% to fix N2, and 62.3%, 37.7%, and 18.9% to produce proteases, pectinases, and cellulases, respectively. 16S rRNA isolates sequencing revealed the presence of genera such as Bacillus, Pedobacter, and Streptomyces. Dried EPS was mixed with a concentrated bacterial suspension, and granules were produced. Granule’s physical resistance and bacterial viability tests are being carried out. Conclusions: This approach will support the development of a robust formulation with strong potential for success.
- Innovative PGPB-based fertilizers as a sustainable solution to promote crop resilience in degraded soilsPublication . Sousa, Ana S. S.; Epelde, Lur; Alves, Paulo Célio; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.