Similar to the human gut bacteria! Scientists are developing "probiotic drinks" belonging to plants

scientists have developed a plant "probiotic" that can help plants fight disease without using expensive pesticides.british researchers say beneficial bacteria in the soil support the immune system of plants in a manner similar to that found in the human gut.by injecting probiotics into plant growth media, they hope to create ideal growth conditions for herbs, fruits and vegetables, while avoiding bacteria.20 to 40 per cent of global crop production is lost to pests, which cost the global economy about $220 billion, according to the United Nations., plant probiotics are particularly beneficial for soilless crops that grow under closed and sterile conditions, where they are susceptible to disease, the researchers said.using tomato plants, the team will now use genetics and biochemistry to understand how roots interact with beneficial microorganisms in the soil.will be used to grow "good bacteria" that help plants grow because they "strengthen" the immune system and protect against pests and diseases.professor Duncan Cameron, director of the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield, said: "Scientists have learned a lot in recent years about how gut fungi stay healthy, and we believe so do plants."by studying how tomato roots interact with beneficial bacteria in the soil, we hope to develop plant probiotics to strengthen their immune systems and help them fight disease without the need for harmful pesticides. "" coupled with artificial foam soil, this new approach can help farmers grow healthy, sustainable fruits and vegetables during the off-season and in the cities where most people live. Thesheffield hopes to find a chemical-free solution, given the impact of pesticides on human health and nature.scientists say that by introducing beneficial bacteria into these greenhouse environments, outbreaks of these diseases can be prevented, productivity increased and food waste avoided.a plant version of the probiotic drink is being studied as part of the university's 1.5 million pound project, which focuses on hydroponics, plants grown without soil.in normal agricultural production, soil supports the roots of plants, but in hydroponic systems, plants are man-made and hung away from the ground.as part of hydroponics, scientists have developed foam "soils" that produce 10 times as much as ordinary soil because they are not affected by soil degradation.could help grow agricultural products in soil-poor urban areas and ease the huge demand for agricultural land.experts from the Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food revealed last week that crops grown from polyurethane foam grow two to ten times faster on an urban farm than crops grown in soil.scientists say their fake soil is chemically, physically and biologically similar to real soil and can grow everything from salads to tomatoes. the university has demonstrated the system with used mattresses, nutrition and water, in a refugee camp in Jordan. hydroponics can help residents in dense concrete areas of large cities, which require little land to feed a growing population. , even in soiled areas, the world faces a growing soil fertility crisis, the loss of fertile soil sufficient to support plant growth. 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost each year to erosion, according to a United Nations report. Compiled/Forward-Looking Economist APP Information Group Original Source: Source forward-looking.com, reproduced please indicate the source.

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