
- Beneath every healthy plant, there's a constant underground exchange happening
- Root exudates and soil microbes interact in a living feedback loop that supports survival, growth, and resilience
- When plants face drought, salinity, or pathogens, they release specific compounds to attract microbial allies
- These exudates include
1. Organic acids to unlock nutrients
2. Strigolactones to bring in mycorrhizae
3. Coumarins for iron mobilization
4. G3P and flavonoids to activate microbial responses
- Microbes respond by
1. Releasing growth hormones like IAA and cytokinins
2. Emitting volatiles that reshape root structure
3. Producing enzymes that access bound nutrients
4. Enhancing tolerance to stress and disease
- This powerful class of microbes is known as PGPR (Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria)
- Decades of intensive farming have taken a toll on this biological conversation.
- We reduce microbial activity, dull the root's ability to signal, and weaken long-term plant health.
- If you work with microbial formulations or soil biologicals, this is the future to invest in and to empowering the whole soil-plant-microbe system🌱🌾