When looking at an organism as massive as a full grown oak tree, it's hard to imagine that such a behemoth would need any help staying alive. After all, living for hundreds of years is no easy accomplishment. And yet, without the help of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), plant life would not flourish in the way that it has. In fact, with the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) these rhizobacteria are capable of causing profound effects on the growth and metabolism of various plant life. In this study, the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana was grown using various mutants of the species, as well as different PGPR's responsible for producing distinct VOC's. The main purpose of this, of course, is to determine with greater specificity what sort of influences these various molecules have on the plant.
While this was a study conducted on a small plant that is not used commercially, there are still substantial implications to this. Farmers searching for miracle crops need to look no further, as someday simply spraying average seeds with a strain of highly optimized PGPR could take any plant to its peak performance. This will allow farmers in desolate regions to more easily cultivate their land, either through preparation with a crop meant to create more fertile soil or the 'money crops' themselves, such as corn. Hopefully by harnessing the power of what is already found within nature, we can take our agriculture to the next level and fix the problem of world hunger.
-Colby Ells (I)
The symbiosis between rhizobacteria and plants is certainly a beneficial one. I first learned about it in a plant biology class when we discussed nitrogen fixation. Rhizobacteria converts nitrogen into a usable form for plants (ammonia). Plants in return give rhizobateria amino acids.
ReplyDeletePosted by Sarah Kamukala
Thank you for your comment! This is a very accurate summary of the behavior that exist between these organisms. I hope that learning about interesting biology such as this sparks your interest into more intricate systems within this one that can be studied in order to find benefits for our own species.
Delete-Colby Ells (1)
Wow! I didn't realize there was such an intricate symbiosis between such different organisms. Does this mean that without bacteria plants would cease to exist?
ReplyDelete-Anonymous (IV)
Thank you for your comment! While these bacteria can be wildly beneficial to the plants they form relationships with, I do not think the plants would die without them. I believe the bacteria would not exist without the plants, though.
Delete-Colby Ells (1)
I work with arabidopsis in my lab, there are so many factors that go into how the plant grows, (the genetic back ground, the lighting, the water, the contamination, ect.) But i had never considered a symbiotic rhizobacteria before, especially becasue during germination we do everything we can to ensure that the seeds and plates are sterile. Perhaps this rhizobacteria is in the soil we transfer the seedlings into.
ReplyDelete-Brooke Sullivan