Jefferson Brendon Almeida dos Reis

Insect development involves profound physiological reorganization that can alter the assimilation and allocation of metabolites across life stages. In herbivorous insects, these processes are tightly linked to diet-derived chemical exposure, yet how metabolic organization shifts throughout ontogeny remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated ontogenetic metabolomic variation in Battus polydamas feeding on Aristolochia gigantea , a system characterized by a specialized ecological interaction between insect and host plant. We examined how chemical profiles vary across larval, pupal, and adult stages, as well as in the host plant and larval frass, to determine whether metamorphosis is associated with stage-specific reorganization of the insect metabolome. Multivariate analyses revealed clear separation among sample types, and PERMANOVA confirmed significant differences among groups. Pupae and adult bodies showed the greatest similarity, whereas plant and frass formed distinct clusters. Wings exhibited a differentiated metabolomic profile. Molecular networking revealed a diverse set of primary and secondary metabolites, including carbohydrates, amino acids, phenolics, fatty acids, and sterol-related compounds. Nine metabolites differed significantly among plant, insect stages, and frass. Lipid- and sterol-related compounds showed stage-specific variation, particularly in pupae and wings, while phenolic derivatives and fatty acids distinguished insect tissues from plant and frass samples. Frass displayed marked chemical divergence, consistent with differential assimilation and metabolic processing. In summary, the metabolomic profile of B. polydamas is reorganized across ontogeny, reflecting stage-specific patterns of metabolite retention and transformation throughout development.

Floral (FNs) and extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are key plant microhabitats that mediate interactions among plants, insects, and microorganisms, yet their associated fungal communities remain poorly characterized, especially in tropical ecosystems. Here, we investigated the diversity, taxonomic composition, and functional structure of fungal communities across distinct plant microhabitats of two woody Cerrado species, Maprounea brasiliensis and Hymenaea stigonocarpa , using an environmental DNA metabarcoding approach. In M. brasiliensis , fungal communities from floral and extrafloral nectaries were compared, whereas in H. stigonocarpa , extrafloral nectaries were contrasted with adjacent phyllosphere and endosphere compartments. Across all microhabitats, communities were dominated by Ascomycota, with Cladosporium as the most abundant genus. Yeast genera such as Hannaella, Starmerella , and Aureobasidium , although less abundant than filamentous fungi, were also consistently detected as part of the core mycobiota across both plant species and compartments. In M. brasiliensis , EFNs exhibited higher richness, diversity, and evenness than FNs, and beta diversity analyses revealed clear compositional differentiation between these nectary types. In contrast, no significant differences in alpha or beta diversity were detected between EFNs and phyllosphere/endosphere compartments of H. stigonocarpa . Functional profiles were dominated by plant pathogenic and saprotrophic fungi in all microhabitats, with filamentous forms prevailing over yeasts. However, yeast‐like growth forms were relatively more abundant in the EFNs of M. brasiliensis . These results show that floral and extrafloral nectaries act as ecologically distinct microhabitats that contribute to fungal community structuring in Cerrado plants, with implications for plant–insect–microbe interactions in a highly diverse and understudied biome.

Interactions between insects and plants shape ecological and evolutionary dynamics, yet floral herbivory remains underdocumented for many taxa. Butterflies of the genus Battus have a specialized association with Aristolochia , with larval feeding historically reported only on vegetative tissues. Here, we present the first confirmed record of floral herbivory by larvae of Battus polydamas on Aristolochia gigantea . Observations were conducted on a single cultivated plant in the Evolutionary Garden of the University of Brasília. We quantified floral damage and documented larval behavior through photographs and videos. Of the 42 floral structures examined, 46.43% of open flowers and 35.71% of floral buds exhibited signs of herbivory, including laminar tissue removal, margin erosion, perforations, and partial destruction of the floral tube. Larvae of multiple instars were found feeding on both external and internal floral regions. These observations expand current knowledge of the feeding behavior of B. polydamas by documenting the use of floral tissues of A. gigantea. They also suggest potential ecological consequences of florivory for A. gigantea , emphasizing the need for broader investigations into the conditions and frequency of this interaction.

The genus Bacillus , particularly endophytic species, has been widely studied as a source of plant growth-promoting bacteria in agricultural systems. These microorganisms contribute to plant performance through nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production, pathogen suppression, microbiome modulation, and enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, their ecological roles, functional plasticity, and genomic diversity remain poorly integrated into conceptual frameworks that extend beyond crop-based applications. Functional plasticity is reflected in their ability to colonize diverse plant hosts and tissues and to promote similar plant responses through distinct molecular mechanisms. Likewise, genomic diversity is evidenced by variation in accessory genomes, biosynthetic gene clusters, and regulatory networks that shape ecological functions and metabolite production. This review examines endophytic Bacillus as a model for understanding how metabolically versatile and genomically plastic bacteria establish functional, but context-dependent, associations with plants. Drawing on evidence from functional genomics, pangenomics, metabolomics, and microbial ecology, we discuss mechanisms associated with plant growth promotion and emphasize their dependence on host identity, environmental conditions, and microbial interactions. We address functional convergence arising from distinct genetic and metabolic routes, the contribution of accessory genomes and regulatory variation, and the ecological consequences of microbial inoculation in resident plant-associated microbiomes. We also highlight the limitations of in vitro screening approaches and the need for experimental validation across multiple biological scales to establish robust genotype–phenotype relationships. Finally, we extend the discussion beyond agricultural systems to consider the use of endophytic Bacillus in wild plant systems and ecological restoration, emphasizing the importance of evaluating both functional outcomes and ecological impacts.

Host phenology is an important determinant of the microbial community, yet how it shapes the evolution and function of endophytic fungi in native plants of the Cerrado remains poorly understood. We investigated cultivable foliar fungal communities in Connarus suberosus (evergreen) and Diospyros lasiocalyx (deciduous) using an integrative approach. A total of 365 isolates were obtained, and most belonged to the genus Diaporthe . Both host plants harbored communities with similar alpha and beta diversity patterns, characterized by high taxonomic dominance and consistent composition. Beta diversity analyses revealed no significant differences in community composition between host species (PERMANOVA, p > 0.05). The high abundance of Diaporthe in both hosts likely contributed to the observed compositional similarity. Phylogenetic community structure was consistent between hosts, characterized by stochastic assembly for most taxa. The only distinct signal was a significant phylogenetic clustering for the genus Diaporthe in the deciduous D. lasiocalyx (NTI = 0.75; p = 0.042), whereas Diaporthe in C. suberosus followed a stochastic pattern (NTI = -0.60; p = 0.677). For non-dominant genera, assembly rules remained stochastic in both host species ( p > 0.05). The bipartite network analysis indicated compartmentalization, with 72.4% of genera classified as specialists. Diaporthe showed significant negative correlations with Penicillium and Colletotrichum ( p < 0.001), indicating non-random association patterns among dominant taxa. Functionally, Mantel analyses indicated that variation in plant-pathogen and litter-saprotroph guilds was associated with taxonomic community structure. Overall, our results indicate that contrasting host phenologies had limited effects on the diversity and composition of cultivable foliar endophytic fungal communities. Instead, both hosts were characterized by similar community structures dominated by Diaporthe , with only a subtle phylogenetic signal detected for this genus in the deciduous host.

Endophytic bacteria of the Bacillus subtilis species complex are known for plant growth promotion and antifungal activity, although strain-specific traits remain poorly understood. This study characterized the Bacillus siamensis strain BACIII, isolated from asymptomatic soybean roots in a charcoal rot-affected area, using whole-genome analysis and phenotypic assays. Genome sequencing identified BACIII as Bacillus siamensis and revealed a metabolically versatile genome containing twelve biosynthetic gene clusters linked to antimicrobial compounds such as difficidin, fengycin, and surfactin. Additionally, genomic islands associated with mobile elements, regulation, and stress response suggest adaptive potential. Inoculation with the BACIII strain significantly accelerated germination and increased early growth, biomass accumulation, and chlorophyll content in soybean and sunn hemp (p < 0.05), whereas no significant effects were observed in cotton or sunflower, indicating host-dependent responses. In vitro assays demonstrated consistent inhibition of several phytopathogenic fungi, including Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium spp., and Macrophomina phaseolina, with variable intensity. Overall, BACIII combines host-specific plant growth promotion with broad antifungal activity, supporting its potential for biological control in sustainable agriculture.

Understanding how agricultural soil management affects soil fungal communities is essential for assessing the resilience of biodiversity hotspots such as the Brazilian Cerrado. In this study, we characterized fungal community structure across three contrasting land-use systems within the same agricultural landscape: a native Cerrado remnant, a cover-cropping system, and a spatially isolated potato monoculture field. The soil’s chemical and enzymatic characteristics differed from one another and were clustered by area. However, the same pattern was not observed for the fungal community. Alpha-diversity indices did not differ significantly among sites, although native Cerrado soils showed slightly higher richness and evenness. Beta-diversity analyses based on Bray–Curtis and Jaccard distances, supported by NMDS, ANOSIM, beta-dispersion, and PERMANOVA, indicated no significant compositional differences among communities. Core-mycobiota analysis identified 157 shared ASVs, including genera such as Fusarium, Cladosporium, Chrysosporium, Trichoderma, and Clonostachys. As a preliminary assessment based on a limited spatial design and sequencing-based inference, these findings should be interpreted with caution. These results underscore the need for further research on the mechanisms driving fungal dispersal, edge effects, and the long-term impacts of agricultural land-use on fungal diversity and ecological integrity in the Cerrado.

The sustainable reuse of organic residues is a key strategy for reducing the ecological footprint of mushroom cultivation and promoting a circular bioeconomy. Green coconut husks and biomass from the invasive grass Arundo donax were evaluated as alternative lignocellulosic substrates for the cultivation of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus . Five substrate formulations combining different proportions of coconut husk and shredded A. donax biomass were tested and compared with a conventional eucalyptus sawdust control. Mycelial colonization time, onset and duration of fruiting, cumulative fresh yield, fresh and dry mass, and carbon, nitrogen, and protein concentrations of the fruiting bodies were assessed. Substrates enriched with A. donax , particularly the 75:25 mixture ( A. donax : coconut husk), reduced colonization time by up to 10 days and achieved the longest production period and highest fresh yield (308g). The coconut-only substrate produced mushrooms with higher dry matter content (27.1% vs. 15.2% in the control), whereas the 100% A. donax substrate enhanced nitrogen and protein concentrations. Overall, both residues proved suitable for oyster mushroom cultivation, providing a functional outlet for challenging-to-manage lignocellulosic wastes by converting them into productive substrates that yield nutritious food while contributing to environmental mitigation and the promotion of a circular bioeconomy. Graphic abstract Experimental workflow illustrating the use of Arundo donax and green coconut husk as biomass sources for formulating alternative substrates (S1–S5) for mushroom cultivation, followed by the evaluation of substrate performance and mushroom water and nutrient content, showing that S2 achieved the highest yield and the longest fruiting period, whereas the coconut-only substrate (S5) produced mushrooms with the highest dry matter content.