Presentation by Christopher Cullis, Francis Hobart Herrick Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Director, Case Western Reserve University

Does the soil microbiome facilitate Tylosema esculentum’s (marama bean) growth in poor environments?

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The usefulness of the microbiome

In this presentation Professor Christopher Cullis asks how does the Marma Bean acquire sufficient nutrients from the low fertility sandy soil it grows in?
In this video he explained the hypothesis that the soil microbiome is important in nutrient acquisition. The microbiome (bacterial and fungal) has been characterized to identify possible plant growth promoting and nutrient helpers. Marama appears to be able to improve nutrient acquisition of neighbouring plants and the microbiome components may have use as biofertilizers for other crops.