‘Soil probiotics’ promise bigger, healthier crops, but there’s a downside
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Article Title | ‘Soil probiotics’ promise bigger, healthier crops, but there’s a downside |
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Article Category | Blog |
Authors | |
Author | Frew, Adam |
Publication Title | The Conversation |
Journal Citation | 23 October 2018, pp. 1-9 |
Number of Pages | 9 |
Year | 2018 |
Place of Publication | Australia |
Web Address (URL) | https://theconversation.com/soil-probiotics-promise-bigger-healthier-crops-but-theres-a-downside-103236 |
Abstract | More than half the world’s plant-derived energy intake comes from just three crops: rice, wheat and maize. These crops, like most land plants, live in an evolutionarily ancient partnership with a certain type of fungus, called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi penetrate plants’ roots, even entering the root cells themselves. In a win-win relationship, the fungi provide the plants with crucial nutrients and the By helping plants take up nutrients from the soil, these fungi can enhance crop yields, increase pest resistance, and reduce the need for fertiliser. So it’s hardly surprising that there has been a long-held interest in harnessing these soil-dwelling fungi for agriculture. But our research shows that in some cases these fungi can harm crops instead of helping them. This means we need to proceed with caution in pursuing the benefits of using these fungi as fertilisers. |
Keywords | arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 410203. Ecosystem function |
410603. Soil biology | |
310703. Microbial ecology | |
Byline Affiliations | Charles Sturt University |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q57q8/-soil-probiotics-promise-bigger-healthier-crops-but-there-s-a-downside
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'Soil probiotics' promise bigger, healthier crops, but there's a downside.pdf | ||
License: CC BY 4.0 | ||
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