SUSTAINABLE SYMBIOSIS IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT: DEVELOPMENT OF MYCOBACTERIUM AGROFLORENSIS FOR CROP NUTRITION IN SMART GREENHOUSES SUPPORTING LIFE IN PLANETARY SCIENCES

Abstract

The project Sustainable Symbiosis in Controlled Environments addresses one of the most challenging and innovative themes in contemporary science: the sustainable production of food in extreme environments, such as agricultural zones impacted by climate change, space missions, and planetary stations. The proposal focuses on the application of advanced microbial biotechnology for the development of a symbiotic bacterium, named Mycobacterium agroflorensis, which has a high capacity to promote plant growth through biological nitrogen fixation and the synthesis of nutrients essential for plant metabolism. Situated at the intersection of planetary sciences, biotechnology, and regenerative agriculture with dual applicability for both terrestrial agricultural systems and controlled environments in space, this study aims to develop and apply Mycobacterium agroflorensis in intelligent greenhouse systems with the goal of establishing a sustainable symbiosis that optimizes the biosynthesis of nutrients essential for plants. The project seeks to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and enhance productive efficiency in controlled agricultural environments, including under simulated space conditions. The methodology was structured in several stages: initially, soil samples were collected from degraded areas of the cerrado in northern Tocantins, characterized by low fertility. In the laboratory, the bacterium was isolated using a culture medium adapted for slow-growing microorganisms. After isolation, molecular identification was performed with the support of artificial intelligence applied to genetic sequencing analysis at the cellular biology and genetics laboratory, followed by symbiotic optimization of the bacterium through its association with saprophytic fungi derived from organic residues such as coffee grounds, bean mycorrhiza, and fungi from cassava leaves. This symbiosis resulted in a biofunctional strain capable of providing nitrogen, phosphorus, and other metabolites essential for plants. The results demonstrated that cultivation in intelligent greenhouses equipped with IoT sensors for continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity, pH, and luminosity showed superior performance when plants were inoculated with the symbiotic bacterium. Within just 72 hours, a significant increase in microbial density (1.2 × 10⁹ CFU/mL) was observed, along with a 35% increase in nitrogen assimilation by the plants. Additionally, significant improvements in seedling growth, coloration, and resistance were verified, even under simulated environmental stress conditions. The conclusion highlights that the use of optimized microbial symbionts is a viable strategy to promote sustainable agriculture in controlled environments. The development of Mycobacterium agroflorensis represents a significant advancement for agricultural and planetary biotechnology, with the potential to offer innovative solutions for regenerative agriculture in the Brazilian semi-arid region, as well as to revolutionize food production in space colonies, lunar bases, or Martian habitats. The integration of data science, biotechnology, microbiology, and the Internet of Things expands the frontiers of scientific research and paves the way for new models of sustainability and food sovereignty on Earth and beyond.