by Angel Fernandez, MyFloraDNA
It’s easy to put your efforts into growing healthy plants. Some microorganisms can be beneficial to our crops. Some microorganisms are actually beneficial to plants. They can provide protection, enhance nutrient uptake and even increase resistance to stress and other adverse conditions. These microorganisms, also known as biostimulants or mutualism, are known to be beneficial to plants.
But what is mutualism?
All plants have microorganism communities that do not cause harm, and in fact, these communities are beneficial to them. Mutualism is a relationship between two organisms that benefits from each other’s coexistence. The mutualistic relationships that cannabis plants have with other organisms are not uncommon. This is mutualism between microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi, and cannabis plants. These organisms lend their tissue to the other organisms in return for food and shelter. The plant receives different benefits from microorganisms, such as phytohormone supplies, secondary metabolism, and enzyme stimulation. They aid in the absorption and solubilization minerals.
The most fascinating thing about mutualistic relationships in cannabis, however, is the fact that they can occur anywhere on the plant. However, different microorganisms prefer to live in different areas of the plant. The roots, stems and petioles of cannabis plants can all be home to endophyte organisms. Although most plants can host bacteria and fungi both, studies have shown that stems are more likely to host fungi. Mycorrhizas, rhizobacteria, and other fungi found in roots are the most common. These organic compounds are used in many cultures as biostimulants. They are beneficial for plants.
The production of secondary metabolites such as CBD and THC is one of the greatest benefits of mutualism among microorganisms. The growth of cannabis plants and secondary metabolites has been enhanced by four specific bacteria taxa: Citrobacter freundii (comamonas testosteroni), Citrobacter freundii (enterobacter cloacae), and Pseudomonas pusida (pseudomonas pisuda). The evidence suggests that these four bacteria species act as biostimulants.
Particularly, Pseudomonas bacteria strains benefit cannabis plants by producing diffusible anti-microbials that act as pathogen controllers. Bacillus strains act as a defense against pathogens by stopping them from creating resistance to secondary compounds plants produce to eradicate them.
Mycorrhizae are fungi living in roots. They help increase water and nutrient absorption and stimulate crop growth. The genera of Paecilomyces and Penicillium as well as Trichothecium are endophytic cannabis fungi that produce bioactive compounds that act against Fusariumoxysporum. These substances promise to solve serious problems in cannabis plants by acting as biological control agents against aggressive pathogens. They also serve as a sustainable resource and can be used to replace chemopesticides currently on the market. They reduce pesticide residues in cannabis flowers, and allow growers to adjust to the government’s pesticide tolerance policies.
How can we encourage mutualistic relationships in our plants?
The mutualistic relationships between microorganisms, plants, and soils occur naturally, without the use of any artificial additive. This depends on the environment, the cultivation area and the pH and salinity levels of the soil. They may be found in the substrate, or accidentally transmitted in many other ways.
Cannabis growers have a variety of options to introduce microorganisms to their plants. They can either use the substrate or directly on the plants. Some companies sell inoculums that include certain strains of bacteria and fungi that promote plant growth and protect them against pathogens.
These strains can also be obtained through organic matter, such as compost. This is rich in sugars and bacteria. Older compost can also contain beneficial fungal strains that are good for cannabis plants.
Mutualism, which is a mutualistic relationship between microorganisms (microorganisms) and cannabis plants, can help improve crop growth, reduce pesticide use, and protect the plants from pathogens. Growers can improve the health of cannabis plants by understanding and encouraging these relationships. This will help to create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly cultivation process.
MyFloraDNA is a genetic laboratory located in Woodland, California that delivers modern genomics to the Cannabis Industry.
Our services include genetic validation, pathogen detection and trait detection. We use the inner power of your plants to provide breakthrough solutions.
The post Members Blog: Mutualistic Relations in Cannabis – The Advantages of Coexistence was first published on The National Cannabis Industry Association.
