In this work, a new terrestrial cyanobacterial species, Oculatella lusitanica LEGE 161147, was isolated and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Morphologically, O. lusitanica shares characteristics with different Oculatella species (mainly with O. crustae-formantes), lacking distinctive features. However, the phylogeny based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and the 16S-23S ITS secondary structures support the establishment of this isolate as a new species. O. lusitanica is placed within a clade mainly composed by other Oculatella terrestrial strains; however, it forms a separate lineage. In addition, our species differs from the other Oculatella described so far by lacking the V2 helix within the ITS region. Since cyanobacteria are known to release compounds that promote plant growth and/or increase their tolerance to stresses, the effect of this newly described cyanobacterial species on Lactuca sativa (lettuce) plants development and salinity stress resistance was evaluated. Our results showed that, although the cyanobacterium had no impact on plant growth under the conditions tested, it was able to mitigate the deleterious salinity stress effects on plant size, root and aerial part fresh weight, by eliciting the non-enzymatic antioxidant response system (proline, H2O2 and reduced glutathione). In addition, the microorganism was able to induce a priming effect on lettuce plants by stimulating defensive mechanisms under non-stress conditions, and enhances the activity of nitrogen metabolism-related enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase and nitrate reductase. These results indicate that this native terrestrial cyanobacterial species could be employed as a tool in sustainable agricultural practices.

Inocula containing photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria and microalgae can promote the formation of biocrusts, improving the soil properties and allowing ecosystem recovery. The GreenRehab project aims to develop a low-cost, eco-friendly, and easy-to-implement system to rehabilitate burned soils and protocols to evaluate the success of an ecosystem after-fire recovery. For this purpose, native cyanobacteria and microalgae were isolated from soil/biocrusts and tested, with selected strains being cultivated on a large scale. To evaluate the performance of the proposed rehabilitation system (based on the inoculation of native cyanobacteria and microalgae), we analyzed spectral data scanned from a portable visible/near-infrared spectrometer that indirectly estimates top-soil photosynthetic activity. Several spectral indices based on the normalized difference combination of spectral bands were calculated and compared for their ability to assess photosynthetic activity over time. Results showed that treatments with microalgae and cyanobacteria effectively enhanced photosynthetic activity, with Trichocoleus stimulating soil rehabilitation the most. Moreover, the best performing normalized difference index was the one combining the 660 nm and 860 nm wavelengths. Parallelly, very-high resolution imagery obtained from a UAV equipped with a multispectral camera is currently being tested to assess the performance of different inocula previously selected from microcosm experiments in environmental conditions closer to real ones found in post-fire scenarios. Preliminary results led us to develop an integrated protocol for image acquisition, radiometric calibration and photogrammetric post-processing. This allowed us to characterize baseline conditions in the test area, including geomorphology, vegetation and portray fine-scale patterns in greenness and photosynthetic activity. Overall, spectral measurements and indices from portable spectrometers and UAVs open the possibility of assessing which treatments exploited in the GreenRehab project effectively enhance soil rehabilitation and recovery from frequent fires. Such innovation may translate into other 'real-world' applications in ecology, forestry, and agronomy fields.

Background and Aims Biocrusts are found on soil surface resulting from an association between soil particles and microorganisms. Photoautotrophic cyanobacteria and microalgae are pioneers on biocrusts formation, promoting soil stability, nutrients availability and water retention, leading to the development of other communities. This work aimed at isolating and characterizing cyanobacteria and microalgae from biocrusts (Central Portugal) and to assess their potential as plant biostimulants, as well as obtaining an insight into their mechanism(s) of action. Methods Microorganisms were isolated through successive spread plating and serial dilutions and characterized using a polyphasic approach. An initial screening was performed using exudates from each microorganism and two plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana and Lolium multiflorum. Subsequently, the selected microorganisms were tested as a consortium in hydroponic systems. Biometric and biochemical parameters were evaluated for both plant species. Results The consortium microorganisms belong to genera often found in soils/biocrusts: Trichocoleus, Nodosilinea, and Microcoleus (filamentous cyanobacteria), Klebsormidium (filamentous microalga), and Nostoc (diazotrophic heterocystous cyanobacteria). The consortium showed biostimulant potential in hydroponic cultures, promoting both plant species growth and enhancing physiological productivity related parameters. Stress related parameters revealed that the presence of the microorganisms did not lead to a stressful situation. However, a significant increase in proline was observed, endorsing a role of this molecule in this process. Conclusion This study contributes to the knowledge on the biodiversity of cyanobacteria and microalgae from Portuguese soils and highlights their potential as biostimulants, constituting a step forward towards understanding the molecular mechanisms behind this effect.

Instagram is one of the most widely used social networks in the world, which has led to the rise of influencers. Therefore, several brands have benefited from the emergence of these new "personalities". This paper is based on understanding the function of Instagram as a promotional media. That said, the main purpose of the study is to understand how Wandson Lisboa's interactions and his original and creative content on Instagram attract brands. To answer this question, we address aspects such as the Internet and growth of social networks, as well as press relations in the digital age. Afterwards, we conduct an interview with NOS brand manager and Wandson himself, as well as an analysis of his Instagram posts. We also ran an online survey to understand how people use Instagram and interact with influencers.