Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: MEHRAN ALI

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
DISCENTE: MEHRAN ALI
DATA: 08/07/2026
HORA: 08:00
LOCAL: Departamento de Agricultura
TÍTULO:

Co-application of Iron Nanoparticles and Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria on Growth, Physiology, Antioxidant Activity, Secondary Metabolites, and Steviol Glycoside Biosynthesis on in Vitro Grown Stevia rebaudiana

PALAVRAS-CHAVES:

Stevia rebaudiana, Nano-particles, Plant-growth promoting bacteria, Secondary metabolites, Antioxidant activity.

PÁGINAS: 22
GRANDE ÁREA: Ciências Agrárias
ÁREA: Agronomia
SUBÁREA: Fitotecnia
RESUMO:

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family, is widely recognized for its natural, low-calorie sweeteners steviosides and rebaudiosides, originated in Brazil and Paraguay. Despite the growing demand for natural sweeteners, the efficient production of steviol glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana remains limited due to suboptimal growth and metabolic activity under in vitro conditions. Therefore, keeping in
mind the above limitations, the present study is proposed to evaluate the combined effects of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR), specifically Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus thuringiensis, on various physiological, biochemical, and molecular parameters of in vitro grown Stevia rebaudiana plantlets.
Our study mainly aims to assess the influence of FeNPs, applied at different concentrations, either alone or in combination with bacterial inoculants, on plant growth parameters (such as shoot and root length, number of leaves, and biomass), morphological traits, and photosynthetic efficiency. In addition, we will further determine the physiological attributes including chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic indicators like net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci). We will then evaluate the antioxidant defense system via enzymatic (SOD, POD, CAT, APX) and specialized metabolites (Total Soluble Sugar Content, phenolics, flavonoids, and proline) with a purpose to determine their contents under nanoparticle and bacterial treatments. Furthermore, targeted analysis of steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside-A) using HPLC will be quantified to determine the effect of treatments on secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Parallel quantification of total phenolics and flavonoids will provide us insights into the overall metabolic shift. Overall, we proposed that the co-application using the compatibility and availability of (FeNPs) along with the (PGPR) might offer an eco-friendly and effective way to improve the growth and valuable compounds of stevia plants in controlled conditions. Therefore, the results of this study will support the advancement of sustainable, nano-based agricultural approaches and enhance the cultivation of high-value medicinal plants through the combined use of microbial and nano-technological strategies. This research will not only be limited to solely improve the yield and quality of stevia compounds, but will also deepen our understanding of how nanoparticles, beneficial microbes, and plant metabolism interact. Taken together, our study outcomes may serve as a foundation for future in vivo trials and industrial applications in the pharmaceutical and functional food sectors to meet the food sectors demands.

MEMBROS DA BANCA:
Interno - WANDERLEY JOSÉ MANTOVANI BITTENCOURT - UNILAVRAS (Membro)
Interno - LUCIANE VILELA RESENDE (Suplente)
Presidente - JOYCE DORIA RODRIGUES CARVALHO (Membro)
Externo ao Programa - ANITA FERNANDA DOS SANTOS TEIXEIRA - DAG/ESAL (Suplente)
Interno - ALEXANDRE ALVES DE CARVALHO (Membro)