How Bacteria Could Be The Key To Healthier Crops

As the world's population continues to grow, some North Carolina scientists are doing research on how to feed a larger number of people. The answer, they say, could be found in bacteria.

And not just one type. It's a community of bacteria and fungi working together called a microbiome. There's one in the human gut, and there's also a rich microbiome surrounding plants.

Microbes can affect the health of a plant, influence how fast or slow it grows, and potentially save it from drought.

Researchers at Duke University sequenced the DNA from a common wildflower (Boechera stricta) to better understand how a plant's genes and environment contribute to its microbiome, and how microbes can be used to grow crops more efficiently. Plant Biologist Maggie Wagner says this kind of research could reduce dependence on pesticides and fertilizer.

“It's not completely clear what form these microbiome products of microbiome interventions will take. But the idea is that they could be a lot less damaging to the environment, because there could be less runoff into ecosystems and our water supply and so on.”

Wagner says these are complex systems though. And it will likely be years until the science can be applied to agricultural crops.