Última alteração: 2018-08-16
Resumo
Victorino I1-4, Martins C. 1, Ventura S. 1, Quilambo O. 1,
Girlanda M. 2, Voyron S. 2, Berruti A., Bianciotto V. 3, Lumini E. 3
1 Biology Science Department of Eduardo Mondlane University (DCB-UEM)
2 Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology of Turin University (DBios-UNITO)
3 Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection of National Research Council (IPSP-CNR)
4 Biotechnology Center of Eduardo Mondlane University (CB-UEM)
Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, biofertilizers, cotton, sustainability
Abstract
Mozambique is a sub-Saharan country that lives essentially from agriculture and crop exportation with more than half of the 21 million inhabitants in the country practicing subsistence agriculture characterized by low levels of production and productivity. Cotton and tobacco were for long the major cash crops with 97% of the national investment uniquely directed to cotton mainly produced in central and northern regions. Protection against insects and weeds, poor soils and late sowing however adversely affect the quality of the final product. Therefore the Mozambican government, along with the cotton companies, decided to invest in research, focusing on varietal selection and conventional cultivation techniques on a more sustainable way.
The endophytic fungi that form arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) have gain notoriety, representing a viable and self-renewable alternative to agrochemicals along with benefits for the environment. AM fungi (AMF) are obligate root fungal symbionts that facilitate plant growth by capturing nutrients in depleted soils like the Mozambican ones.
Addressing cotton cultivation limitations, this project aims to:
- isolate and molecularly characterize AMF on the basis of their beneficial functional effect on plants;
- combine them to obtain a cotton-tailored biofertilizer inoculum enabling farmers to deliver a more sustainable, eco-friendly and economically viable agriculture assuring that the final product satisfies the high standards of quantity and quality of the crescent market.