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| Retorts with bone meal and bacteria |
Scientists of Plant Research International have demonstrated that the largely unknown reservoir of soil micro-organisms can be put to good use. Soil bacteria and fungi can be utilised for the specific suppression of plant pests and diseases but also as raw material for, e.g., natural bleaches.
Almost all known antibiotics originate from the soil. But soil contains many more, possibly useful, organisms. A teaspoon of soil contains some ten billion bacteria, fungi and protozoa, of which about one per cent has been identified. Bacteria and fungi are especially interesting for further research: they produce substances, including enzymes, that may decompose anything they find in their way.
Isolating bacteria that are difficult to cultivate
Our scientists were the first to succeed in isolating a group of soil bacteria that are very difficult to cultivate. This opens the road to new industrial applications such as the production of enzymes that decompose cellulose and enzymes that can serve as natural, non-polluting bleach. The industry is now normally using raw materials based on mineral oil but natural processes now be utilised as well.
The scientists are also selecting bacteria and fungi that are inhibiting other – harmful – organisms and/or are releasing phosphate from the soil; this is important because such phosphate can be absorbed by plants. Our scientists have selected bacteria that release phosphate from bone meal while suppressing plant pathogens at the same time. Another example is a mixture of bacteria with a fungus that decomposes plant growth inhibiting substances. This made it possible to use grass as sustainable alternative for peat in potting composts. The micro-organisms are colonising the grass, decompose specific inhibiting substances which enables plant growth. These bacteria also have the potential to suppress plant pathogens.
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