AVANÇOS E APLICAÇÕES DA TECNOLOGIA qPCR PARA O ESTUDO DE MICROORGANISMOS DO SOLO

Abstract

Soil plays a fundamental role in maintaining the terrestrial ecosystem, offering various environmental services. Soil health is intrinsically linked to its chemical composition and the diversity of microorganisms present in it. Different molecular tools have been employed to study soil microorganisms, with the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique standing out. qPCR allows for the rapid assessment of the abundance of specific phylogenetic groups of microorganisms in the soil. Although it does not directly assess environmental diversity, the technique is capable of detecting changes that occur in specific groups under varying environmental conditions. Its primary advantages include high specificity, sensitivity, precision, and speed. Nevertheless, some limitations are still mentioned in its use in soil studies, such as the requirement to obtain high-quality DNA, prior knowledge of the sequence being studied, and the possibility of the presence of reaction inhibitors. Bibliometric data demonstrate a continuous increase in quantitative and qualitative metrics in the literature associated with the use of qPCR assays in soil communities. This tool has expanded our understanding of the role of microorganisms in the soil and has contributed to the development of more effective conservation and management strategies that promote the sustainability of this ecosystem.

KEYWORDS: Molecular tool; Soil biodiversity; Real-time PCR.