Higher crop yields possible thanks to disease-resistant fungi

In a recent study conducted by Swiss scientists from the universities of Zurich and Basel, Agroscope, and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, a breakthrough has been achieved in understanding the role of mycorrhizal fungi in large-scale agriculture. The research, published in Nature Microbiology, explores the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on crop growth and the potential for predicting success in large-scale inoculation.

Key Findings

• Large-scale field trials on 800 Swiss acres revealed significant crop yield improvements, ranging from -12% to an impressive +40%.
• Soil microbiome indicators, rather than nutrient availability, proved instrumental in predicting 86% of the variation in plant growth response to AMF inoculation.
• The abundance of pathogenic fungi emerged as a crucial factor, predicting 33% of the success in AMF inoculation.

Implications for Farmers

The study highlights the potential of leveraging soil microbiome indicators for strategic AMF inoculation, providing farmers with a data-driven approach to enhance crop yield while minimizing dependence on traditional fertilizers and pesticides.

• Soil microbiome indicators offer a practical and sustainable biotechnological perspective for predicting inoculation success at the onset of the growing season.
• Farmers can benefit from increased profitability through precise microbiome engineering, optimizing agricultural management practices.