Soil Microbiology Lab

Study of soil microbes that are beneficial to plant growth, namely mycorrhiza, rhizobia and other plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB)

Team

Ana Isabel Pereira Alexandre

Head

Ana Isabel Pereira Alexandre

Esther Menendez

Researcher

Esther Menendez

Clarisse Brígido

Researcher

Clarisse Brígido

Taiana de Araújo Conceição

Researcher

Taiana de Araújo Conceição

Luís Manuel Cardoso Vieira Alho

Researcher

Luís Manuel Cardoso Vieira Alho

Isabel Maria Oliveira Brito

Researcher

Isabel Maria Oliveira Brito

Manuel Ezequias Prazeres Figo

Senior Technician

Manuel Ezequias Prazeres Figo

Vanessa Amaral Schnitzer da Silva

Researcher - PhD Student

Vanessa Amaral Schnitzer da Silva

Roukaya Ben Gaied

Researcher - PhD Student

Roukaya Ben Gaied

Gertrudes Antónia Valente Mariano

Technical Assistant

Gertrudes Antónia Valente Mariano

Jorge Manuel Pereira Narigueta

Research Fellowship

Jorge Manuel Pereira Narigueta

Daniela de Oliveira Garcia

Research Fellowship

Daniela de Oliveira Garcia

Contacts

+351 266760878*

lms@uevora.pt

Laboratório de Microbiologia do Solo
Universidade de Évora - Pólo da Mitra
Edifício Santos Júnior - sala 169
7006-554 Évora, Portugal

* Call cost to Portugal landline

About

MicroSolo research

The Soil Microbiology Lab is dedicated to the study of soil microbes that are beneficial to plant growth, namely mycorrhiza, rhizobia and other plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). We are interested in the investigation of the interaction of these microbes with their plant hosts as well as how they may improve plant growth, particularly in stress conditions (biotic or abiotic).

Research

MicroSolo research2

The Soil Microbiology Lab is dedicated to the study of soil microbes that are beneficial to plant growth, namely mycorrhiza, rhizobia and other plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). We are interested in the investigation of the interaction of these microbes with their plant hosts as well as how they may improve plant growth, particularly in stress conditions (biotic or abiotic).

Relevant Publications

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

2020

  • Paço, Ana; da-Silva, José R.; Torres, Denise P.; Glick, Bernard R.; Brígido, Clarisse. 2020. "Exogenous ACC Deaminase Is Key to Improving the Performance of Pasture Legume-Rhizobial Symbioses in the Presence of a High Manganese Concentration" Plants  9, no. 12: 1630. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121630
  • Faria, J. M. S.; Teixeira D. M.; Pinto, A. P.; Brito, I.; Barrulas, P.; Alho, L.; Carvalho, M. (2020). Toxic levels of manganese in an acidic Cambisol alters antioxidant enzymes activity, element uptake and subcellular distribution in Triticum aestivum. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (193), 110355. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651320301949
  • Patanita M., Campos M.D., Félix M.R., Mário Carvalho M., Brito I. (2020). Effect of tillage system and cover crop on maize mycorrhization and presence of Magnaporthiopsis maydis. Biology 2020, 9(3), 46. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/9/3/46

2019

  • Campos M.D., Patanita M., Campos C., Materatski P., Carla M. R. Varanda C.M.R., Brito I. and Félix M.R., (2019) Detection and Quantification of Fusarium  spp. (F. oxysporum, F. verticillioides, F. graminearum ) and Magnaporthiopsis maydis  in Maize Using Real-Time PCR Targeting the ITS Region. Agronomy, 9(2), 45. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/9/2/45
  • Brito I., Goss M.J., Alho L.; Brígido C., van Tuinen D., Félix R. and Carvalho M. (2019). Agronomic management of AMF functional diversity to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses - The role of plant sequence and intact extraradical mycelium. Fungal Ecology, 40, 72-81. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1754504818302022
  • Brígido, C.; Menéndez, E.; Paço, A.; Glick, B.R.; Belo, A.; Félix, M.R.; Oliveira, S.; Carvalho, M. (2019) Mediterranean Native Leguminous Plants: A Reservoir of Endophytic Bacteria with Potential to Enhance Chickpea Growth under Stress Conditions. Microorganisms , 7 , 392.  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/10/392
  • Brígido, C., Singh, S., Menéndez, E., Tavares, M. J., Glick, B. R., Félix, M. d. R., Oliveira, S., and Carvalho, M. (2019). Diversity and Functionality of Culturable Endophytic Bacterial Communities in Chickpea Plants. Plants 8(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8020042 .
  • da-Silva, J.R., Menéndez, E., Eliziário, F., Mateos, P.F., Alexandre, A. and Oliveira, S. (2019). Heterologous expression of nifA  or nodD  genes improves chickpea-Mesorhizobium  symbiotic performance. Plant and Soil 436 (1-2), 607-621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-03950-0 .
  • Paço, A., da-Silva, J.R., Eliziário, F., Brígido, C., Oliveira, S. and Alexandre, A. (2019) traG  Gene Is Conserved across Mesorhizobium  spp. Able to Nodulate the Same Host Plant and Expressed in Response to Root Exudates. BioMed Research International, vol. 2019, Article ID 3715271, 13 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3715271 .

2018

  • Serrano J., Shahidian S., Silva J. M. and Carvalho, M. (2018) A Holistic Approach to the evaluation of the montado ecosystem using proximal sensors. Sensors, 18 570, 1-24.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/2/570
  • Serrano J., Sales-Baptista E., Shahidian S., Silva J. M., Oliveira I. F., Castro J. L., Pereira A., Abreu M. C., and Carvalho M. (2018) Proximal sensors for monitoring seasonal changes of feeding sites selected by grazing ewes. Agroforest Syst. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-018-0219-5

2017

2016

  • Serrano J. M., Shahidian S., Marques J. S. and Carvalho M. (2016) Monitoring of soil organic carbon over 10 years in a Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system: potential evaluation for differential management. Precision Agric., 17: 274–295.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11119-015-9419-4
  •  Paço, A., Brígido, C., Alexandre, A., Mateos, P.F., Oliveira, S. (2016) "The symbiotic performance of chickpea rhizobia can be improved by additional copies of the clpB  chaperone gene", PLoS ONE  11 (2): e0148221. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148221.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0148221
  • Nascimento F. X., Brígido C., Glick B. R., and Rossi M. J. (2016). The Role of Rhizobial ACC Deaminase in the Nodulation Process of Leguminous Plants. International Journal of Agronomy. vol. 2016, Article ID 1369472, 9 pages.https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ija/2016/1369472/

2015

  • Alho L., Carvalho M., Brito I. and Goss M. J. (2015) “The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungal propagules on the growth of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum  L.) under Mn toxicity in ex situ  experiments”. Soil Use and Management , 31, 337–344. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/15937
  • Carvalho M., Brito I., Alho L. and Goss M. J. (2015) “Assessing the progress of colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza of four plant species under different temperature regimes”. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 178, 515–522.http://hdl.handle.net/10174/14593
  • Valverde P., Carvalho M., Serralheiro R., Maia R., ramos V. e Oliveira B. (2015) Climate change impacts on rainfed agriculture in the Guadiana riverbasin (Portugal). Agricultural Water Management 150 (2015) 35–45.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377414003692
  • Valverde P., Serralheiro R., Carvalho M., Maia R., Oliveira B. and Ramos V. (2015) Climate change impacts on irrigated agriculture in the Guadiana riverbasin (Portugal). Agricultural Water Management 152: 17–30.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377414003989
  • Carvalho, M., Serralheiro, R., Corte-Real, J. and Valverde, P. (2015) Implications of climate variability and future trends on wheat production and crop technology adaptations in southern regions of Portugal. Water Utility Journal 9: 13-18, 2015.http://www.ewra.net/wuj/pdf/WUJ_2015_09_02.pdf
  •  Maia, R., Vivas, E., Serralheiro R. and Carvalho M. (2015) Socioeconomic Evaluation of Drought Effects. Main Principles and Application to Guadiana and Algarve Case Studies. Water Resource Management, 29: 575–588.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-014-0883-9

2014

  •  Laranjo, M., Alexandre, A., and Oliveira, S. (2014) "Genes commonly involved in acid tolerance are not overexpressed in the plant microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti  MAFF303099 upon acidic shock", Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology , 98 :16, 7137-7147.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-014-5875-4
  • Alexandre, A., Laranjo, M., and Oliveira, S. (2014) "Global transcriptional response to heat shock of the legume symbiont Mesorhizobium loti  MAFF303099 comprises extensive gene downregulation", DNA Research , 21 :2, 195-206. http://dnaresearch.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/2/195.abstract
  • Laranjo, M., Alexandre, A. and Oliveira, S. (2014) "Legume growth-promoting rhizobia: an overview on the Mesorhizobium  genus", Microbiological Research , 169 :1, 2-17.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944501313001651  
    Brito I., Carvalho M., Alho L. and Goss M. J. (2014) “Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for bioprotection: Mn toxicity”. Soil Biology and Biochemistry , 68,78-84. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/9077
  • Hudson, L. N., Newbold, T., Contu, S., Hill S. L. L. et al. (2014) “The PREDICTS database: a global database of how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts”. Ecology and Evolution , 4, 4701–4735.http://hdl.handle.net/10174/14113
  • Carvalho, M. and Lourenço, E. (2014) Conservation Agriculture – A Portuguese Case Study. Review article. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Sciences: 317-324 ISSN 0931-2250https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jac.12065

2013

2012

2011

2010

Anos anteriores

 

BOOK CHAPTERS

2018

  • da-Silva, J.R; Paço, A; Alexandre, A.; Brígido, C; Menéndez, E. (2018) “Chapter 2 - Genetic engineering as a strategy to improve rhizobial symbiotic performance” in “Agricultural Research Updates”, vol 24. Edited by P. Gorawala and S. Mandhatri. Nova Science Publisher. ISBN: 978-1-53614-137-5. https://novapublishers.com/shop/agricultural-research-updates-volume-24/

2017

  • Brígido C., Goss M.J., Carvalho M., and Brito I. (2017) Diversity in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Chapter 4). IN Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture- Management to Overcome Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. Edition:1st, Chapter: 4, Publisher: Academic Press, USA, New York, pp.59-79. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-804244-1.00004-6http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012804244100004
  • Alho, L., Kadir, S., Goss M. J., Carvalho M., and Brito I. (2017) Impacts on Host Plants of Interactions Between AMF and Other Soil Organisms in the Rhizosphere. Edition:1st, Chapter: 5, Publisher: Academic Press, USA, New York, pp.81-109. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-804244-1.00004-6.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128042441000046

2016

  • Alexandre, A., and Oliveira, S. (2016) “Chapter 13.1 - Heat shock response in bacteria with large genomes: lessons from rhizobia” In “Stress and Environmental Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria”, pp. 739-746. Edited by F. J. de Bruijn. Wiley-Blackwell Publishers. ISBN 9781119004882.http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1119004888.html

2015

  • Brígido C, Duan J and Glick BR. (2015) Methods to Study 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate (ACC) Deaminase in Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (Chapter 16) IN Cassán, F. D., Okon, Y., Creus, C.M. (eds). Handbook for Azospirillum: Technical Issues and Protocols. Cham Springer International Publishing: 287-305. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-06542-7_16https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-06542-7_16
  • Brígido C and Glick BR. (2015) Phytoremediation using Rhizobia (Chapter 9) IN Ansari, A.A., Gill, S.S., Gill, R., Lanza, G.R., Newman, L. (Eds.) Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, volume 2. Cham Springer International Publishing: 95-114.. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-10969-5_9https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-10969-5_9

Anos anteriores

  • Brito I., Carvalho M. and Goss M. J. (2009) Techniques for Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Inoculum Reduction. In: Varma A and Kharkwal AC (eds) Symbiotic Fungi, principles and practice, Soil Biology 18, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany. pp 307-318. ISBN: 978-3-540-95893-2 (Print) 978-3-540-95894-9 (Online). http://hdl.handle.net/10174/836
  • Brito I., Goss M. J., Carvalho M., van Tuinen D. and Antunes P. M. (2008) “Agronomic Management of Indigenous Mycorrhizas”, In: Varma A (eds) Mycorrhiza 3rd Edition: State of the Art, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Eco-Function, Biotechnology, Eco-Physiology, Structure and Systematics.  Springer-Verlag, Germany, pp 375-402. ISBN: 978-3-540-78824-9. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/8367
  • Oliveira, S., Laranjo, M., Alexandre, A. (2008). "Molecular Tools in Microbial Ecology" In "Ecology Research Trends", chapter 4, pp. 161-183. Edited by Laia Diaz and Marta Perez, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, USA. ISBN 9781604566383.https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7272
  • Laranjo, M. and Oliveira, S. (2006). "Rhizobial Strain Improvement: Genetic Analysis and Modification." In "Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture and Aquaculture.", pp. 225-260. Edited by R. C. Ray. Enfield, New Hampshire, USA: Science Publisher Inc. ISBN 9781578083671.http://www.scipub.net/fisheries/microbial-biotechnology-agriculture-aquaculture-volume-2.html
  • Brito I., Carvalho M., van Tuinen D., Goss M. J. (2006) „Effects of soil management on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in fall-sown crops in Mediterranean climates“, In: Soil Management for Sustainability, pp 149-156, Rainer Horn, Heiner Fleige, Stephan Peth & Xinhau Peng (eds), Catena Verlag GMBH, Germany. ISBN: 3-923381-52-2; USISBN: I-59326-246-9. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/8369

 

BOOKS

  • Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture. Management to Overcome Biotic and Abiotic Stresses (2017). Michael Goss, Mário Carvalho and Isabel Brito. 1st Edition, Academic Press - Elsevier, London, UK. eBook ISBN: 9780128042861 - Paperback ISBN: 9780128042441. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/21473

book-Goss-Carvalho-Brito

https://www.elsevier.com/books/functional-diversity-of-mycorrhiza-and-sustainable-agriculture/goss/978-0-12-804244-1

 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Carvalho, M., Basch, G., Calado J.M.G., Barros, JFC (2012) Long term effect of tillage system and crop residue management on soil carbon content of a luvisol under rainfed Mediterranean conditions. International Soil Tillage Organization Congress, Uruguay, published in Agrociencia, Striving for sustainable high productivity through improved soil and crop management, 183:187, ISSN 1510-0839 http://www.fagro.edu.uy/agrociencia/index.php/directorio/article/view/686
Projects

 

Ongoing projects:

  • BIOPROTOMATE - Bioproteção de Tomateiro Contra a Fusariose - Impacto das práticas agronómicas ” (ALT20-03-0246-FEDER-000056), financed by FEDER and National Funds, through the Programa Operacional Regional ALENTEJO 2020. Ongoing since October 2020, under the coordination of Isabel Brito.

For more information please visit the project website at https://www.bioprotomate.uevora.pt/  

Previous projects:

  • "Exploiting beneficial associations with chickpea: the role of nonrhizobial endophytic bacteria in the rhizobialegume symbiosis" POCI‐01‐0145‐FEDER‐016810 (PTDC/AGR‐PRO/2978/2014) financed by national funds through FCT/MCTES and co-financed by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) through COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade Internacionalização (POCI). Principal Investigator - Clarisse Brígido. November 2016-October 2020.
  • Improvement of pasture production in acid soils in the Montado system: Chemical and biological approach ” (ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-000039), financed by FEDER and National Funds, through the Programa Operacional Regional ALENTEJO 2020. Principal Investigator - Mário Carvalho. September 2016-December 2019.
  • "Evolution of symbiosis genes in rhizobia: chickpea mesorhizobia as case study"  (PTDC/BIA-EVF/4158/2012), financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade (COMPETE) and co-financed by Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER. Principal Investigator - Solange Oliveira. July 2013-December 2015.
  • The role of weeds mycorrhiza on the growth of winter crops and interactions with native rhizobia under Mediterranean  conditions ” (FCT PTDC/AGR-PRO/111896/2009), financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia . Principal Investigator - Mário Carvalho. 2011-2014.
  • European Project “Biocontrol and Bioremediation agents and their role in Agriculture and Forest health”  People-MARIE CURIE ACTIONS-2009-IRSES, European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 247669,  Coordinator Eugenia Iturritxa from Instituto Vasco De Investigación Y Desarrollo Agrario, Spain. March 2011-February 2014.
  • "Improvement of Rhizobia by Genetic Modification with Stress Response Genes"  (PTDC/BIO/80932/2006), co-financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and FEDER Programa POCI 2010. Principal Investigator - Solange Oliveira. January 2009-June 2012.
  • "Diversity of rhizobia natural populations in Portugal: strains tolerant to environmental stress conditions ”. financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, SAPIENS project (POCTI/BME/44140/2002). Principal Investigator - Solange Oliveira. October 2003-March 2007. 
  • Rhizobia nodulating chickpea: Genetic characterization and relation to strain origin and symbiotic efficiency ”. financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia  (PRAXIS/P/AGR/11129/1998). Principal Investigator - Mário de Carvalho. July 1999-December 2001.

Services and Cooperation

 

The Soil Microbiology Lab establishes collaborations with farmers, in order to explore agricultural practices that maximize the beneficial effects of the soil microbiome, namely with the purpose of overcoming the effects of chemical constraints or the presence of plant-pathogens.

Regarding of more specific services, the Soil Microbiology Lab has to offer:

-Evaluation of the mycorrhiza colonization rate;

-Evaluation of soil parameters related to microbial activity (enzymatic activities, respiration rate, microbial C);

-Quantification of rhizobial populations;

-Detection of the presence in a given soil of rhizobial populations specific to the leguminous species of interest.

You may consult our prices here .