{"id":21847,"date":"2026-01-01T08:57:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T08:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/?post_type=iplantprotect_proj&#038;p=21847"},"modified":"2026-03-05T09:44:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T09:44:19","slug":"bacteryeas2hort-intelligent-biofertilization-for-climate-resilient-horticulture","status":"publish","type":"iplantprotect_proj","link":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/iplantprotect_proj\/bacteryeas2hort-biofertilizacao-inteligente-para-uma-horticultura-resiliente-as-alteracoes-climaticas\/","title":{"rendered":"BacterYeas2HORT: Intelligent biofertilization for climate-resilient horticulture"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Microparticles with bacteria and yeasts to increase drought and salinity tolerance in lettuce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">O <strong>BacterYeas2HORT<\/strong> is a research project developing innovative biological solutions to increase the tolerance of horticultural crops to drought and salinity, while reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. The project focuses on combining beneficial microorganisms with sustainable microencapsulation technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Challenge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Horticulture is facing growing challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rising temperatures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water scarcity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soil salinization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cultures such as <strong>lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa<\/em>)<\/strong>, which is highly sensitive to salinity and demanding of water, are particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, over-fertilization can lead to the accumulation of nitrates in the leaves, raising environmental and food safety concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sustainable solutions are needed that increase crop resilience without compromising food quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Solution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BacterYeas2HORT proposes an innovative approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Selection of growth-promoting microorganisms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beneficial bacteria and yeasts with the ability to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improve nutrient absorption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increasing the efficiency of water use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increasing tolerance to drought and salinity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Microencapsulation in natural biopolymers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The microorganisms are encapsulated in biodegradable microparticles composed of: alginate and cellulose<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This technology makes it possible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Controlled release of microorganisms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater protection against adverse environmental conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better water retention in the soil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Application on model crop (lettuce)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Greenhouse tests evaluate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plant growth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physiological response to stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quality and safety of the end product<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Innovation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project introduces a pioneering innovation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Development of a <strong>dual microbial transport system<\/strong> based on alginate and cellulose, a technology still little explored in agriculture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration of <strong>growth-promoting yeasts<\/strong>, an emerging group in the biofertilizer sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simultaneous evaluation of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Agronomic performance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biochemical indicators of stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical and chemical properties of lettuce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Expected impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BacterYeas2HORT has a direct impact on four key dimensions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama-1024x512.jpg?strip=all\" alt=\"BacterYeasHORT Diagram\" class=\"wp-image-21857\" style=\"width:789px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama-1024x512.jpg?strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama-300x150.jpg?strip=all 300w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama-768x384.jpg?strip=all 768w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama-1536x768.jpg?strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama-18x9.jpg?strip=all 18w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all 1920w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=192 192w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=576 576w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=960 960w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=1152 1152w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=1344 1344w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=1728 1728w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BacterYeasHORT_Diagrama.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=450 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BacterYeas2HORT is structured in four main stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Selection and formulation of microbial consortia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Development of microparticles loaded with microorganisms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluation of drought and salinity tolerance in the greenhouse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analysis of the physical and chemical quality of lettuce<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Team and Partnerships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto<\/strong> - Project leader<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GreenUPorto<\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>InnovPlantProtect<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Financing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Project submitted to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the 2024 Call for Exploratory Research Projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto-1024x576.jpg?strip=all\" alt=\"2022 FCT Logo B horizontal black\" class=\"wp-image-21855\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7774691893768444;width:215px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto-1024x576.jpg?strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto-300x169.jpg?strip=all 300w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto-768x432.jpg?strip=all 768w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto-1536x864.jpg?strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto-18x10.jpg?strip=all 18w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all 1920w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=192 192w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=384 384w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=576 576w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=960 960w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=1152 1152w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=1344 1344w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=1728 1728w, https:\/\/easb4aajaue.exactdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2022_FCT_Logo_B_horizontal_preto.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=450 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Micropart\u00edculas com bact\u00e9rias e leveduras para aumentar a toler\u00e2ncia \u00e0 seca e salinidade na alface O BacterYeas2HORT \u00e9 um projeto de investiga\u00e7\u00e3o que desenvolve solu\u00e7\u00f5es biol\u00f3gicas inovadoras para aumentar a toler\u00e2ncia das culturas hort\u00edcolas \u00e0 seca e \u00e0 salinidade, reduzindo, simultaneamente, a depend\u00eancia de fertilizantes qu\u00edmicos. O projeto aposta na combina\u00e7\u00e3o de microrganismos ben\u00e9ficos com [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":21852,"template":"","estado_do_projeto":[22],"patologia":[],"class_list":["post-21847","iplantprotect_proj","type-iplantprotect_proj","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","estado_do_projeto-projetos-em-curso"],"acf":{"file":false,"file_source":{"label":"Ficheiro","type":"file","formatted_value":false},"viewer":"","viewer_source":{"label":"Documento","type":"text","formatted_value":""},"info":[{"row":{"label":"Designa\u00e7\u00e3o do Projeto\/ Acr\u00f3nimo","value":"BacterYeas2HORT: Biofertiliza\u00e7\u00e3o inteligente para uma horticultura resiliente \u00e0s altera\u00e7\u00f5es clim\u00e1ticas"}},{"row":{"label":"C\u00f3digo do Projeto","value":"2024.16837.PEX"}},{"row":{"label":"Programa\/Call","value":"Concurso para Projetos de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o de Car\u00e1ter Explorat\u00f3rio 2024"}},{"row":{"label":"Estado","value":"Ativo"}},{"row":{"label":"Data de in\u00edcio","value":"31\/12\/2025"}},{"row":{"label":"Data de conclus\u00e3o","value":"30\/06\/2027"}},{"row":{"label":"Or\u00e7amento total","value":"\u20ac 60.000"}},{"row":{"label":"Entidade L\u00edder","value":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Universidade do Porto"}}],"info_source":{"label":"Ficha","type":"repeater","formatted_value":[{"row":{"label":"Designa\u00e7\u00e3o do Projeto\/ Acr\u00f3nimo","value":"BacterYeas2HORT: Biofertiliza\u00e7\u00e3o inteligente para uma horticultura resiliente \u00e0s altera\u00e7\u00f5es clim\u00e1ticas"}},{"row":{"label":"C\u00f3digo do Projeto","value":"2024.16837.PEX"}},{"row":{"label":"Programa\/Call","value":"Concurso para Projetos de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o de Car\u00e1ter Explorat\u00f3rio 2024"}},{"row":{"label":"Estado","value":"Ativo"}},{"row":{"label":"Data de in\u00edcio","value":"31\/12\/2025"}},{"row":{"label":"Data de conclus\u00e3o","value":"30\/06\/2027"}},{"row":{"label":"Or\u00e7amento total","value":"\u20ac 60.000"}},{"row":{"label":"Entidade L\u00edder","value":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias da Universidade do Porto"}}]},"members":null,"members_source":{"label":"Membros","type":"repeater","formatted_value":false},"members_external":null,"members_external_source":{"label":"Membros Externos","type":"repeater","formatted_value":false},"posts":null,"posts_source":{"label":"Posts","type":"repeater","formatted_value":false}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/iplantprotect_proj\/21847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/iplantprotect_proj"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/iplantprotect_proj"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/iplantprotect_proj\/21847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21867,"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/iplantprotect_proj\/21847\/revisions\/21867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"estado_do_projeto","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/estado_do_projeto?post=21847"},{"taxonomy":"patologia","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iplantprotect.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/patologia?post=21847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}