Study Shows Groups of Bacteria Can Work Together to Protect and Improve Crop Growth

Scientists from the University of North Carolina and University of Massachusetts have discovered a way for a group of bacteria to help plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) improve crop growth.

Using liquid-growth-based method, the scientists have identified multiple bacterial strains that increase adherence of PGPB to plant roots over time. The scientists used a high-throughput screen of bacteria obtained from the roots of wild-grown plants to ensure that the identified bacteria naturally come in contact with the roots of plants in native soil environment. The results have shown that the physical or chemical interaction between these different species of bacteria have produced better long-term maintenance of PGPB on roots.

The discovery has not only answered the questions about plant-microbe interactions and how bacteria affect the ability of PGPB to maintain their relationship to plant roots but also help the development of future agricultural interventions to increase crop yields.

For more details, read research article in Phytobiomes.