JANUARY 2021
Get More Value From The Tripartite Association | PRO-MIX
Friday, December 18, 2020
Growers have always been interested in increasing crop yield and quality. Many products on the market offer ways to achieve better profitability, but few can pretend to offer a natural way to do so, yet an easier way than value-added growing media. PRO-MIX offers a wide variety of value-added growing media incorporating cutting-edge active ingredients, which have proven to give growers the return on investment they are looking for. If biologicals like mycorrhizae and Bacillus bacteria are increasingly known in horticulture, few growers understand why both microorganisms, when put in combination, are even more efficient and profitable.
In fact, mycorrhizae and Bacillus pumilus, both incorporated in PRO-MIX BIO+ MYC growing media (in the US) work together in what we call a TRIPARTITE ASSOCIATION, which is why they both create a value-added combination. Let’s dig a bit more into that at a scientific level.
How Mycorrhizae and Bacillus Work
Both groups of organisms occur naturally in soils and are not genetically modified. They have been selected through a screening process for their growth enhancing properties or disease suppression. As a reminder, here’s quick summary of the modes of action of mycorrhizae and Bacillus bacteria individually.
In fact, mycorrhizae and Bacillus pumilus, both incorporated in PRO-MIX BIO+ MYC growing media (in the US) work together in what we call a TRIPARTITE ASSOCIATION, which is why they both create a value-added combination. Let’s dig a bit more into that at a scientific level.
How Mycorrhizae and Bacillus Work
Both groups of organisms occur naturally in soils and are not genetically modified. They have been selected through a screening process for their growth enhancing properties or disease suppression. As a reminder, here’s quick summary of the modes of action of mycorrhizae and Bacillus bacteria individually.
Plant roots colonized by MYCORRHIZAE (Glomus intraradices, PTB297 Technology). Mycorrhizal structures (arbuscules and vesicles) mean that the symbiosis between the fungus and the plant is taking place. Source: Premier Tech
Mycorrhizae are symbioses between mycorrhizal fungi and plants.
The fungus colonizes the root system of plants, where it will get sugars and lipids necessary for its growth. Then, the fungus will develop a network extra-root filaments (hyphae) and grow out past the root system, into surrounding soil or soilless media environment where the plant roots are not present, to access water and nutrients to transfer them to the plant. Observed proven benefits are:
The fungus colonizes the root system of plants, where it will get sugars and lipids necessary for its growth. Then, the fungus will develop a network extra-root filaments (hyphae) and grow out past the root system, into surrounding soil or soilless media environment where the plant roots are not present, to access water and nutrients to transfer them to the plant. Observed proven benefits are:
- Enhanced root system growth
- Enhanced water and nutrient uptake
- Increased plant resistance to environmental stresses (drought, compaction, salinity, low fertility)
- Reduced transplant shock
- More efficient nutrient use
Bacillus pumilus (PTB180 Technology) creating a biofilm around a plant root to ensure its protection. Source: Premier Tech
Bacillus are gram-positive bacteria which colonize plant roots. Their high motility gives them the ability to form a biofilm around the root system that ensures protection against pathogens. Some of them, like Bacillus pumilus, have antibacterial and antifungal properties on plants: by the secretion of lipopeptides (such as surfactin) which help suppress root rot diseases caused by Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia, and by inducing the plant's induced systemic resistance (ISR). They also secrete biostimulant molecules (auxins) that stimulate root growth and induce the proliferation of the root hairs to favor the absorption of nutrients and water.
They offer a wide variety of benefits, which we can group in two types: biocontrol and biostimulation
Biocontrol benefits:
- Stronger plant disease resistance
- Reduced need for fungicide soil drenches
- Insecticide properties
Biostimulation benefits:
- Accelerated seed germination & plant establishment
- Increased nutrient & water uptake
- Increased plant vigor and yield
- Increased plant tolerance to environmental stresses (drought, salinity, compaction)
Bacillus pumilus induces the proliferation of root hairs, increasing the plant’s water and nutrient uptake. Source: Premier Tech
As we can see, both microorganisms have major effects on plant quality and subsequently on yield. However, putting each organism alone will provide the individual beneficial effect on plant, while combining them will make them work harder into achieving great results. Here’s why.
What Is a Tripartite Association?
What we call the “tripartite association” is the biological interaction between MYCORRHIZAE, BACTERIA and PLANT. Each partner of this association plays a crucial role to help other organisms thrive in the process. It is important to know that mycorrhizal fungi are obligate symbionts and need a plant to survive and complete their life cycle, compared to Bacillus bacteria which occur naturally in soils around the globe.
By enhancing root system growth and creating a network of filaments, mycorrhizae help plants with uptake of nutrients, such as phosphorus and certain micronutrients. In exchange, the plant provides carbon to the fungus and, by extension, to the root microbiome including our Bacillus pumilus growing along the mycorrhizal hyphae. The symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant results in overall improved plant growth.
“AMF [Mycorrhizal fungi] associated bacteria may be transported along hyphae to the relevant soil volume explored, where they may enhance nutrient availability, control plant pathogens and promote plant growth.1”
Here are the steps in which we can observe this association:
By enhancing root system growth and creating a network of filaments, mycorrhizae help plants with uptake of nutrients, such as phosphorus and certain micronutrients. In exchange, the plant provides carbon to the fungus and, by extension, to the root microbiome including our Bacillus pumilus growing along the mycorrhizal hyphae. The symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant results in overall improved plant growth.
“AMF [Mycorrhizal fungi] associated bacteria may be transported along hyphae to the relevant soil volume explored, where they may enhance nutrient availability, control plant pathogens and promote plant growth.1”
Here are the steps in which we can observe this association:
- Mycorrhizal fungi colonize plants
- Plant gives carbohydrates to the fungi in exchange for water & nutrients they provide
- The hyphae explore the soil/growing media, exuding carbon along their hyphae
- Bacteria absorb this carbon and multiply along the way
- Bacteria liberate lipopeptides, hormones, produce a biofilm, and proliferate root hairs
- Plant protection & stimulation effects
From this point of view, we see inside the biofilm formed around a mycorrhizal hypha. You can witness the real-time speed of nutrients and water moving inside the hypha, and Bacillus bacteria in action. The biofilm prevents other organisms, such as pathogens, to reach the hyphae and plant roots, like a biological shield. Source: Premier Tech
The Benefits of the Value-Added Combination
Now that we have seen and explained the biological process behind the concept, it is important to understand how the benefits from both active ingredients will improve crop quality and yield, with other documented effects on:
Providing the best possible microorganisms for your plants may increase the expected benefits if ingredients are compatible and products are consistent.
Premier Tech, the owner and manufacturer of PRO-MIX since its beginning, has more than 35 years of expertise in biological active ingredients. Joined with state-of-the-art quality control processes in aseptic laboratories and production facilities, PRO-MIX makes a difference for your crops with proven consistency of products, no contamination and reliable active ingredients.
Rouphael et al. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi act as biostimulants in horticultural crops, Scientia Horticulturae, Volume 196, 2015, pp. 91-108.
For more information about the active ingredients incorporated in your growing media, contact us.
- Soil structure
- Stress resistance
- Insect suppression (certain products in the US)
- Mortality rate decrease
- Regulated plant growth
- Uniformity of plants in a crop
- Increased plant productivity
Providing the best possible microorganisms for your plants may increase the expected benefits if ingredients are compatible and products are consistent.
Premier Tech, the owner and manufacturer of PRO-MIX since its beginning, has more than 35 years of expertise in biological active ingredients. Joined with state-of-the-art quality control processes in aseptic laboratories and production facilities, PRO-MIX makes a difference for your crops with proven consistency of products, no contamination and reliable active ingredients.
Rouphael et al. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi act as biostimulants in horticultural crops, Scientia Horticulturae, Volume 196, 2015, pp. 91-108.
For more information about the active ingredients incorporated in your growing media, contact us.
MYKE® ONLINE TRAINING
Refresh your MYKE® knowledge and train your new staff members on the benefits of of using MYKE®! Use the link below to access the 5 short videos. The trainings are easy, informative, and very helpful!
All crops have specific light requirements. By knowing minimum and optimum levels of light for our crop we can manage our environment to improve crop performance. When the ambient light exposure is below the minimum requirements we need to apply supplemental lighting in order to maintain our crop production at a healthy and consistent pace.
On the other hand when our ambient light levels are optimal we can regulate light to influence other aspects of our environment such as air temperature and humidity by applying specific products to reduce heat exposure in our greenhouse.
Light management will always be a key factor in our crop performance. As our series continues we will discuss specific products to manage light and heat within your greenhouse. Let’s take a look at some crop specific light requirements and how they affect our crop performance. DLI or Daily Light Integral refers to the number photons received by a plant that provide photosynthetic activation.
Lettuce and Herbs – Minimum 12 DLI, Optimum 17 DLILettuce and herbs are crops that can be grown in both greenhouse and indoor vertical farming. Maintaining DLI below 17 for an indoor vertical farming system is recommended in order to mitigate environmental conditions which can affect calcium uptake and cause tip burn in your crop.
Lettuce and some herbs are extremely sensitive to high temperatures. Therefore, proper DLI management inside a greenhouse reduces the chances of accumulating excess heat that could promote bolting of your crop and the proliferation of both mildew and pest. Thus, because of its influence on temperature, light management is very important to maintain optimum environmental conditions to achieve the product quality required for the market.
Tomatoes (Minimum 20 DLI), Cucumbers (Minimum 15 DLI) and Peppers (Minimum 20 DLI) – Optimum 30 DLITomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are crops with higher DLI requirements than their leafy green cousins. They also enjoy a higher temperature. One major challenge when growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers vertically inside a greenhouse is how to achieve a uniform distribution of DLI for stable consistent fruit generation. Tall crops tend to shade each other, creating an environment where optimal DLI levels are only achieved in the upper canopy. To counteract this effect when relying heavily on ambient light diffusion creating products, such as shade paints, must be employed to scatter the light in different directions to reach every level of the canopy.
Properly designed supplemental lighting can also be employed to reach all levels of the plant canopy and maintain balanced DLI levels when ambient light is insufficient. Too much direct light can cause stress in young leaves and also can cause sunburn issues in fruit. Remember to always use the right products to maintain proper DLI levels and control how light is entering your greenhouse.
Hemp – Minimum 20 DLI, Optimum 30 DLIHemp is a crop that loves light, and can be grown under conditions similar to tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. However, when cultivating hemp, maintaining the proper photoperiod is just as important to production as optimizing DLI. Previous research demonstrated short days promote flowering in this crop, and has also concluded that environmental factors such as temperature and photoperiod, can greatly influence the reproductive cycles of Hemp.
There are three distinct phases in Hemp cultivation: propagation, vegetative and flowering. Recent research regarding light application for high yield production purposes recommend the use of long photoperiods (18 hours) for the propagation and vegetative phases and short photoperiods (12 hours) for the flowering phase when using artificial lighting.
Strawberry – Minimum 17 DLI, Optimum 20 DLIStrawberries enjoy a much lower light requirement than vine crops. Due to plant anatomy diffuse lighting is also recommended to enhance photosynthetic activity in strawberries and avoid leaf shading within the plant. Strawberry cultivars have a strong response to both photoperiod and temperature. We can find short-day, long-day and day-neutral cultivars in strawberries.
Previous research demonstrated that the most common type of cultivar on the market, day-neutral, can also exhibit an accelerated flowering response under long-day conditions. Therefore, by the use of supplemental lighting, it is possible to promote more abundant flowering earlier in strawberries and have your crop ready for the market in less time. Lower temperatures during non-photosynthetic activation periods have been shown to improve flavor.
Microgreens – Minimum 10 DLI, Optimum 12 DLIMicrogreens are young plants with low light requirements grown in vertical farming systems using artificial lighting and harvested before ever reaching maturity. Because these crops have such a fast rate of growth it is important to monitor and maintain proper DLI levels to avoid over-stretching due to low light or burning due to excess light. Usually light-burn can be triggered when plants are too close to lamps.
An important aspect to get perfect size, texture and color microgreens is to work with good light quality. Most often the correct balance of red and blue lighting can achieve great quality in microgreens.
Click the button below to learn more about our L1000 Grow Light System.