Study explains how a fungus helps plants to acquire more iron in a sustainable way
EurekAlert
After verifying its potential as a pest biocontrol agent, a team at the University of Cordoba unraveled the mechanisms used by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhiziumbrunneum to increase iron acquisition in melon and cucumber
In a context of climatic emergency, in which public regulations and strategies increasingly seek to reduce the environmental impact produced by chemical synthesis phytosanitary products, the development of new fertilization strategies and biological control agents based on natural products is essential to move towards sustainable agriculture. Thus, entomopathogenic fungi have become an effective tool in the shift towards more eco-friendly agriculture.
Entomopathogenic fungi (microorganisms that inflict disease on pest insects) function as a powerful biocontrol agent, a potential that the UCO Agricultural Entomology Unit has managed to exploit in a sustainable olive fly control product. These microorganisms have another function too: they help plants cope with nutritional deficiencies, such as those involving iron, thereby bolstering their production.