Why Local Organic Seed? Powerful 'Micro' Giants To the Rescue!
In our ongoing exploration of why local organic seeds are the optimal choice for your garden, we delve into the fascinating world of the seed microbiome.
Yep! Seeds have a microbiome! It's a small select microcosm of the plant's full microbiome-- the microbes the plant in its wisdom, packages right into the seed it produces. But these microscopic allies are more than just passengers; they are critical partners in plant growth and resilience.
The Hidden Helpers: Seed Microbiomes
Endophytes, the beneficial microbes living within plant organs, have been long overlooked. These tiny organisms live within and rely on their host plants for nourishment-- and in return they significantly influence the plants physiological metabolism, enabling them to withstand various challenges-- much like our own microbiomes. We are learning so much about the importance of the 'smallest' of creatures.
Interestingly, plants pass a select number of these mutually beneficial endophytes from one generation to the next via their SEED-- making SEED a vital component of plant health and development. Read on-- this is exciting and important!
Why Seed Microbiomes Matter?
These select seed-associated endophytes/microbes, though less diverse than those in the rest of plant, play a crucial role in the next generation's early plant development. These microbes are the initial 'inoculum' that influences how a plant grows and adapts to its environment. And microbial communities are place based-- they evolve with their environment, locally!
These little passengers help the seeds germinate and they colonize the emerging sprout to, not only afford protection from pathogens in the soil, but to quickly form a community. The sprout sends out 'exudates'-- a special substance exuded specifically to feed this growing 'colony' of friendly microbes. The microbes in turn help pre-digest and deliver nutrients to the sprout and its developing root system.
The transmission of these microbes from the parent plant--> to the seed--> to the next generation of plants, ensures their ongoing presence and service to that next generation. And these microbial passengers, again called endophytes-- support the longevity of seed in storage and play a crucial role in aiding strong germination and vigorous early growth.
There are also microbial passengers riding along on the outside seed coat, further serving to inoculate and support germination and early growth. The term for these external microbes is epiphytic vs. endophytic.
The Role of Seed and Root 'Symbionts'
The word 'symbiotic' likely takes you back to 8th grade biology class. The symbiotic relationship between seeds and their microbial partners, including bacteria and fungi. New research is helping us understand and appreciate the unique and species specific relationships between plants, endophytic and epiphytic microbes, and the health of our soils.
These mutually beneficial relationships don't just promote microbial growth and activity in healthy soils. These relationships also enhance plant survival and resilience in the face of environmental stresses.
WOW! And in turn YOU benefit as well-- as the recipient of better quality and more abundant harvests from your garden!
The Promise of Seed Microbiomes
Despite their importance, seed microbiomes remain under-explored. Growing recognition and interest in this topic is generating increasing knowledge about their diversity, their dynamic activities, and the crucial interactions with plants and the whole soil food web.
These insights are critical for enhancing ecologically sound approaches, strategies, and systems in organic agriculture. These microbial allies are integral partners in addressing the challenges we face for future productivity in the face of rapid change.
Resulting WINS!
Seed microbiomes hold significant potential for improving plant health, productivity, and resilience. They represent a rapidly emerging area of research with promising applications in enhancing crop productivity and environmental sustainability.
By choosing local organic seeds, you're not only supporting biodiversity and sustainability, a worthy cause to be sure-- but you're also harnessing the power of these microscopic allies to create a thriving garden ecosystem. WIN! WIN! WIN!
The really good news is that we don't have to wait for the research to document all the ways these beneficial microbes help us... to benefit our gardens. They're already helping us-- without our fully understanding and appreciating them! It's all by design. We just need to make sure we don't 'get in the way' and destroy relations.
By embracing organic practices in our gardens we are helping these beneficial microbes in return! Mutually beneficial relationships is what it's all about-- what organic agriculture has been all about since the first garden!
It's a cycle of giving and receiving. There's a word for that! Reciprocity!
Your garden coach,
Theresa
PS. Wanna dig into the research? Start here: Harnessing Seed Endophytic Microbiomes: A Hidden Treasure for Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture-- and click on the references at the end to learn more!