Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have developed an innovative emulsion technique that could revolutionize agricultural practices by enhancing plant growth through the use of beneficial bacteria. This breakthrough, documented in a paper published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, was co-authored by a team of experts including Rishum Khan, Hrishikesh Mane, Katie Ernst, Khandoker Samaher Salem, Adriana San Miguel, and Charles Opperman. The study demonstrates a novel method for encapsulating and applying bacteria to plants, potentially leading to more sustainable agricultural practices.
The study utilized two types of bacteria, Pseudomonas simiae and Azospirillum brasilense, known for their biopesticide and biofertilizer properties, respectively. The researchers employed an emulsion consisting of saline solution, biodegradable oil, and polymer to encapsulate the bacteria. This method not only preserved the bacteria's viability but also allowed for strategic application to plants, showing promising results in pest control and plant growth enhancement.
Co-Authors and Their Contributions
The research was a collaborative effort involving several scholars from NC State. Rishum Khan, a former master's student, along with Ph.D. students Hrishikesh Mane and Katie Ernst, contributed significantly to the study. Postdoctoral researcher Khandoker Samaher Salem and Associate Professor Adriana San Miguel provided expertise in chemical and biomolecular engineering, while Professor Charles Opperman offered insights from the field of entomology and plant pathology.
This diverse team brought together their expertise to tackle the longstanding challenge of incorporating plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) into agricultural systems. The research paper underwent a rigorous review process according to Science X's editorial policies before being published in the prestigious journal Advanced Functional Materials.
Innovative Technique and Its Implications
The core of the research lies in the emulsion technique developed to encapsulate the bacteria. Pseudomonas simiae acts as a biopesticide by promoting resistance to pathogens, while Azospirillum brasilense functions as a biofertilizer through nitrogen fixation. The emulsion's composition allows for a gradual release of these beneficial properties.
"The emulsion worked more gradually, killing 95% of the pests within 72 hours. This is valuable to know, since it suggests our technique could be used strategically to provide sustained protection against specific pests or pathogens," stated Mariam Sohail.
Notably, the population of Pseudomonas simiae in the emulsion was found to be 200% higher than in saline solution after four weeks, highlighting the emulsion's effectiveness in preserving bacterial viability. This finding is significant given the historical challenge of combining beneficial bacteria with agrochemicals without compromising their survival.
Future Directions and Applications
The successful development of this emulsion technique opens up new avenues for sustainable agriculture. The study demonstrated improved bacterial survival and reproductive success when applied to soil using the emulsion method compared to traditional applications.
"Ultimately, we found our technique allows us to incorporate multiple active ingredients into a single delivery system and allows the PGPBs to survive and thrive," explained Mariam Sohail.
The research team has outlined future steps for this innovative approach, indicating plans for greenhouse testing followed by microplot evaluations.
"Next steps will involve greenhouse testing and, later, microplots," remarked Rishum Khan.
In addition, the team aims to explore how different plant growth-promoting bacteria and active ingredients perform with various targeted plant species.
"We will likely want to evaluate different PGPBs and other active ingredients to see how they perform with different targeted plant species," added Rishum Khan.