ICAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias Mediterranicas   Universidade de Évora
Molecular Biology of Rhizobia
 

Laboratory of Soil Microbiology-Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Biology - University of Évora - Portugal

Group leader: Solange Oliveira

     
  The symbiosis between soil bacteria (rhizobia) and leguminous plants (beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc) provides nitrogen to the plant by nitrogen fixation, thus increasing yields and reducing the need of environmentally damaging chemical N-fertilisers. Rhizobia can thus be used as safe seed inoculants in sustainable and ecological agriculture. Molecular biology approaches on rhizobia are important for elucidation of the symbiosis relationship and development of improved inoculants.  
     

     
  Nodulos de Rizóbio  
     

 
     
  Our group is interested in the study of the biodiversity and phylogeny of natural populations of rhizobia from chickpea and other leguminous plants, using a molecular biology approach.
We are also interested in the selection of native rhizobia, both efficient and adapted to local conditions, crucial for the improvement of inoculants. For that purpose we are evaluating the phenotypic characteristics of rhizobia strains, mainly symbiotic efficiency and tolerance to environmental stress including high temperature, salinity or pH extremes.

 
 
Presently, several students are working in the lab:

-Marta Laranjo "Molecular bases of stress response in symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria". Post-Doc Researcher. University of Évora. In course since May 2007.

-Ana Alexandre “Temperature stress tolerance in chickpea rhizobia”. PhD thesis. University of Évora. In course since January 2005.

-Clarisse Brígido “Evaluation of tolerance to salinity stress of chickpea rhizobia strains” PhD thesis. University of Évora. In course since October 2007.

-Francisco Nascimento, Masters degree. In course since January 2009.
     

FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia FEDER: Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional CIÊNCIA E INOVAÇÃO - Programa Operacional Ciência e Inovação - 2010