Beneficial bacteria for crops
In light of increasing global demands for biomass, whether for food, feed or fuel, new strategies to improve crop productivity, efficiency and sustainability are required. One promising approach is the use of endophytes (bacteria that colonise and live symbiotically inside plants) as bio-control agents. As a first step, researchers need to better understand how endophytes interact with their host plants at the molecular level. The EU-funded 'Molecular basis of beneficial plant-endophyte interaction - sustainable agriculture from within' (ENDOPHYTES) project was established for exactly this purpose. Researchers collected bacteria from the roots, stems and leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which was grown in a range of different environments. They found 77 bacterial species from three different groups (actinobacteria, firmicutes and proteobacteria). Next, they investigated several beneficial plant interactions in these bacteria, including whether they could make plant hormones, improve plant growth and colonise new seedlings. Thirty-five species produced plant hormones or growth compounds, while 16 promoted plant growth and root formation. The project also looked into plant genetic factors that influenced symbiotic relationships with bacteria. As part of this research, the team found a mutant with decreased acetylation (a chemical modification) of plant walls, which could be useful for biofuel production. ENDOPHYTES' major contribution has been the identification of a number of beneficial endophytic bacteria that could be used to improve crop productivity. Additionally, researchers found an A. thaliana mutant that could hold the key to improved biomass production for biofuels.
