Santosh Bhatnagar’s Post

Like microbes in our gut help us process food, the fungi in trees' roots called mycorrhizae helps plants break down nutrients in the soil. Researchers in Columbia are analyzing the DNA of mycorrhizae there with the help of the Joint Genome Institute, as covered in Mongabay: https://lnkd.in/ejRhXziK

Compacted soils devastate Soil Biology and can kill trees and hedges. This is because rainfall no longer percolates down and the roots cannot undertake their gaseous exchange. With the latest Vogt Soil Probes, Ruskins can blast pressurised air at depths of up to 2m deep, creating fissures up to the surface. These are filled with a natural product (Terramol) to keep them open. We also add a zeolite (micro porous habitat for microbes) with x9 of the best Mycorrhizal Fungi and x26 optimal Soil Bacteria strains than the marketing leading zeolite. Take a look at our specialist team in action🌳 #soilbiology #soilhealth #decompaction #aeration #vogt

Recently, we set out to jumpstart the soil biology of a new garden plot. It was so exciting when the first worms began to appear! Soil biology is needed for nutrient cycling, soil structure, plant growth, decomposition, and pest and disease control. Without soil biology, we only have the physical and unliving components of soil. #reimagineagricultureinhaiti #tobuildavillageinhaiti #soilbiology #haiti

The Secret World of Soil: Unveiling the Power of Bacteria and Fungi Discover the fascinating role of biology in soil formation. Learn how sand, silt, and clay particles come together to create soil aggregates, and the crucial role of bacteria and fungi in producing a strong natural glue called glomalin. Explore how these microorganisms build a solid structure and maintain soil health. #SoilBiology #BacteriaAndFungi #SoilAggregates #Glomalin #SoilHealth #Microorganisms #SoilStructure #SoilFormation #BiologicalInfluence #SoilBiodiversity

The Secret World of Soil: Unveiling the Power of Bacteria and Fungi Discover the fascinating role of biology in soil formation. Learn how sand, silt, and clay particles come together to create soil aggregates, and the crucial role of bacteria and fungi in producing a strong natural glue called glomalin. Explore how these microorganisms build a solid structure and maintain soil health. #SoilBiology #BacteriaAndFungi #SoilAggregates #Glomalin #SoilHealth #Microorganisms #SoilStructure #SoilFormation #BiologicalInfluence #SoilBiodiversity

https://lnkd.in/g4ScKSq4 "The researchers placed the fish in a tank with mussels and amino-acid capsules, all buried under sediment. The fish were able to find these items and dig them up with their shovel-like feet. A close look at these bumps, known as papillae, revealed taste-receptor molecules, which the researchers found were specialized in detecting amino acids and chemicals produced by deep-sea organisms." #evolution #fishlegs

🍄Mycorrhizal Fungi: one of the best soil health indicators. 🚜Agroecosystems are human-managed ecosystems subject to generalized ecological rules. Understanding the ecology behind the assembly and dynamics of soil fungal communities is a fruitful way to improve management practices and plant productivity. 🌱Thus, monitoring soil health would benefit from the use of metrics that arise from ecological explanations that can also be informative for agricultural management. “The intimate associations between plants and fungi easily qualify as one of the wonders of the living world.” 🚩Interested in delving deeper into mycorrhizal fungal associations? Connect with me to discover how Biome Makers Inc. can help uncover the secrets beneath the soil! 👉 Watch this animation from SPUN and Fungi Foundation that discusses the evolution of mycorrhizal fungal relationships: https://hubs.la/Q02ksXmN0 #fungifriday #mycorrhizalfungi #fungi #soilhealth #planthealth #soilmicrobiome

Mode of Action Spotlight: Competitive Exclusion Competitive exclusion occurs when organisms compete for resources in the same ecological niche, limiting the resources available. Ultimately, the better-adapted organism will win. This is the case for Trichoderma harzianum strain T22. This effect is not limited to the petri dish. When applied to seeds, transplants, soil mixes, or other propagative material, T22 grows onto plant roots as they develop, protecting them for several weeks. This protection hinders the growth and development of pathogenic organisms including Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Cylindrocladium, and Thielaviopsis. #Bioworks #biocontrol #trichoderma #modeofaction #Fusarium #soil #roothealth

Here's a neat trick. The female stink bug cultivates the fungus Megymenum gracilicorne on her hind legs and transfers the fungus to her eggs. The fungus grows to completely cover the egg mass. What kind of wicked, deranged mother would do this to her children? Well, actually, it's just a mom doing everything she can to protect her kids from pedo wasps ... I mean parasitic wasps. Trissolcus brevinotaulus is a tiny parasitic wasp that lays eggs on the stick bug eggs. The wasp larvae then parasitizes the stink bug eggs and kill them. Here's where M. gracilicorne comes in. The fungus grows into a thick mat that prevents access by the tiny wasp to the eggs. The nymphs hatch covered in fugus, which eventually they lose. This is not the ideal use of fungi as the stink bug is the pest and the wasp is a beneficial insect. However, this symbiotic relationship illustrates a very important point. We can create biopesticides that are species specific and harmless to the environment.

This week's #ResearchHighlights is full of exciting #SeedScience research for you to get updated with the latest advancements in the area! A mono-layer matrix for pelleting marigold (𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢) seeds. https://lnkd.in/eUUBXAUY Contrasting urban adaptations of seed dispersal traits in two closely-related plant species. https://lnkd.in/eKdHTwZG Identification of candidate genes controlling red seed coat color in cowpea (𝘝𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 [L.] Walp). https://lnkd.in/eEWTvrHS Identification of Novel Germplasm and Genetic Loci for Enhancing Mineral Element Uptake in Soybean. https://lnkd.in/etP-puXV Investigating genomic prediction strategies for grain carotenoid traits in a tropical/subtropical maize panel. https://lnkd.in/eUvevf_6 Lettuce seedlings rapidly assemble their microbiome from the environment through deterministic processes. https://lnkd.in/eU9k-EpD Long days induce adaptive secondary dormancy in seed of the Mediterranean plant 𝘈𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮. https://lnkd.in/eJgErgii Overcoming major barriers in seed ecology research in developing countries. https://lnkd.in/ekUCwTtZ Regulation of the aurantio-obtusin accumulation by StTCP4.1-mediated StDA1-StHDR1 module in 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢 seed. https://lnkd.in/eCE6P6jC Unraveling wheat endosperm development: epigenetic regulation and novel regulators for enhanced yield and quality. https://lnkd.in/esRZ4_ch