By Scout Nelson
A University of Minnesota Morris professor is exploring a natural way to control crop diseases by studying bacteria already present in the soil. Professor Miriam Gieske’s research aims to develop sustainable, chemical-free methods of controlling crop diseases, focusing on bacteria that produce antibiotics naturally. Gieske believes these bacteria could suppress harmful disease-causing bacteria that negatively affect crops.
The challenge, however, is consistency. It is difficult to rely on soil bacteria for dependable crop disease control. Factors such as long-term nitrogen fertilization reduce the frequency of antibiotic-producing bacteria, while planting cover crops may increase it. Understanding how these practices impact the bacterial communities in soil is critical.
“Every soil that I've ever sampled has bacteria in it that actually are able to produce their own antibiotics,” says Gieske. “Those bacteria potentially can kill or suppress the growth of disease-causing bacteria that might otherwise harm crop plants.”
One of Gieske’s goals is to determine how to maintain and cultivate antibiotic-producing bacteria in soil. By studying soil near plant roots, she aims to discover how to create microbial communities that can help suppress crop diseases naturally.
“If we can figure out how to create disease-suppressive microbial communities in the soil, one benefit would be that growers of those high-value crops might be able to do that instead of fumigating their soil with chemicals,” Gieske explains.
Through collaboration with students, Gieske’s team has made some progress, but the research is ongoing. Despite some contradictory findings, Gieske is optimistic about the potential for this research to benefit farmers and society in the long term.
Larson, one of the students working on the project, is enthusiastic about the experience. "It helped me broaden my skills and knowledge in research,” she says. "The experience solidified my desire to work in research setting after graduation."
This research also offers students valuable skills for future careers in research or medical laboratory work, which Gieske believes will serve them well in their future endeavors.
Photo Credit:university-of-minnesota
Categories: Minnesota, Crops