SVOA Microbiology

José Thyálisson da Costa Silva¹, Adrielle Rodrigues Costa¹, Mikael Amaro de Souza¹, Ana Heloísa dos Santos², Janaina de Souza Bezerra³, Ítalo Mayke Alves de Souza Pinheiro¹, Anita Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra Martins¹, Camila Fonseca Bezerra^1,4, Aline Bezerra de Souza⁴, Livia Batista Viana⁴, Carolinne de Souza Nunes Batista Cruz⁴, Fernando Gomes Figueredo⁴, Janete de Souza Bezerra⁵, Dayana Menezes dos Santos¹, Leandro Marques Correia², Hayane Mateus Silva Gomes¹, Cícera Natalia Figueirêdo Leite Gondim⁶, Francisca de Fátima Silva de Sousa¹, Jaceilton Alves de Melo⁷, Bruna Almeida de Oliveira⁸, José Weverton Almeida-Bezerra^1*

¹Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.

²Federal University of Cariri, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.

³Dr. Leão Sampaio University Center, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.

⁴Faculty of Medicine of Juazeiro do Norte- CE, Brazil.

⁵State University of Ceará, Fortaleza – CE, Brazil.

⁶Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife – PE, Brazil.

⁷State Department of Education of Ceará, Crato – CE, Brazil.

⁸University of São Paulo, São Paulo -SP, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. José Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.

https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2026.07.009

Received: May 30, 2026

Published: July 02, 2026

Citation: Silva JTC, Costa AR, Souza MA, Santos AHS, Bezerra JS, Pinheiro IMAS, Bezerra AOPM, Bezerra CF, Souza AB, Viana LB, Cruz CSNB, Figueredo FG, Bezerra JS, Santos DM, Correia LM, Gomes HMS, Gondim CNFL, Sousa FFS, Melo JA, Oliveira BA, Almeida-Bezerra JW. Diversity and Function of Soil Microbiota in the Recovery of Degraded Areas: Ecological Bases and Biotechnological Applications. SVOA Microbiology 2026, 7:4, 85-101. doi: 10.58624/SVOAMB.2026.07.009

Abstract

Soil constitutes one of the most complex and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, harboring a vast community of microorganisms with a central role in maintaining biogeochemical processes and the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems. This article reviews the diversity, structure, and ecological functions of the soil microbiota, with emphasis on its contribution to the recovery of degraded areas. The main microbial groups (bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses) are discussed, highlighting their interactions, metabolic strategies, and role in nutrient cycling, soil structure formation, and promotion of plant growth. The influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the organization of microbial communities is also addressed, as well as the methodological advances that allow their characterization, including molecular and omics approaches. Additionally, the work explores the impacts of environmental degradation on the edaphic microbiota and the consequences for soil functionality, highlighting the loss of diversity and essential ecosystem services. In this context, microbiological strategies applied to ecological restoration are presented, such as inoculation of beneficial microorganisms, use of microbial consortia, soil translocation, and promotion of plant-microorganism interactions. Finally, the relevance of soil microbiology as a strategic tool for the recovery of ecological functionality is highlighted, especially in sensitive biomes such as the Caatinga, reinforcing the need to integrate the microbiota into environmental restoration projects.

Keywords: Soil science, Metagenomics, Rhizosphere, Bioprospecting, Ecological succession