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 Rhizophagy

Plants Farming Microbes

 

Dr. James White of Rutgers University provides the following Foundational Information for understanding the basic mechanisms of plant physiology and metabolism.  Video footage of this dynamic process show the process in real time.  His full Webinar can be seen Here and a brief summary of his presentation slides are shown below.  We are grateful to Dr. White for these informative slides and his groundbreaking work which reveal how plants  'farm' bacterial microbes.  This information reinforces the importance of a thriving biological 'rhizosphere' in the soil and the importance of the principles of Regenerative Agriculture 'NO-TILL' soil management systems.

  • the following diagram shows how microbes enter the periphery of the root, circulate and have their outer nutrients stripped before exiting.  Microbes reform cell wall once outside the root hairs.
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  • Groups of bacteria that favourably benefit the plant roots are 'fed' with carbon 'exudates' produced in the leaves of the plant through the process of photosynthesis.
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  • Reactive oxygen produced by the roots dissolves and 'strips' the outer nutrient rich coating which the plant requires from the bacteria.
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Experimental evidence shows essential root hairs only develop in the presence with bacteria

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  • Bacteria also aid in the formation of endophytic accumulations on the roots.
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  • Graph showing how specific varieties of bacteria are important in trace mineral absorption.
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These concluding observations note specific groups of bacteria are much more effective in this rhizophagy process.  Because most traditional 'Bio Inoculants' only include a small number of species of bacteria/fungi they risk being poorly effective because the plants may require bacterial types not in that mixture.

BEAM  contains 400-500 types of Fungi and 2700 types of bacteria according to laboratory meta genetics tests done by Dr. David Johnson.  This extremely wide mix of diverse microbes offered to the plant roots greatly magnifies the likelihood of the most favourable bacteria/fungi being offered to the plants and surely explains why BEAM is so universally beneficial to a wide range of plants in virtually all environments.

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Understanding Rhizophagy is fundamental to understanding why introducing BEAM with its highly diverse Microbial inoculation of roots and soil is vital to the nutritional requirements for Plant metabolism, optimal growth, development and yield.