Novel synthetic polymers could lead to greater crop yields for farmers

A new method to encouragebacteria to form growth-promoting ecosystems that could be used to coat the roots of plant seedlings is expected to result in stronger, healthier plants and higher crop yields.

In nature, the roots of plants formycorrhizal relationships with communities of organisms in the soil. This is especially important in the early stages of a plant's life when there is a race against time to reach self-sufficiency before the seed runs out.

An applied microbiologist from the University's School of Chemical Engineering and Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Trillo from the School of Chemistry led a team to develop novel synthetic polymers that stimulated the formation of these bacterial communities.

A protective micro- environment is formed by a finely orchestrated community of microbes, supported by a matrix of biological materials.

The synthesis of acylhydrazone-based polymers was the result of a four-year project by the researchers.

The formation of a microorganism-polymer complex can be initiated with the help of these newpolymers. Once the biofilm is formed, thebacteria become a self-sufficient and self-organizing community, and produce their own matrix to allow the discharge of waste products

The project involved two students, Pavan Adoni and Omar Huneidi, who are both PhD students. The process is irreversible and can be dispersed by changing the environment. The results of these experiments will be published.

Pavan Adoni said, "We anticipate that the polymer will eventually be used as a seed coating, perhaps in conjunction withbacteria such as B. Subtilis, which is naturally present in soil, increases the stress tolerance of plants." We envision a more targeted approach that only treats the seed, so that when it starts to grow, it will be in a safe harbor environment. Stronger plants, which grow more quickly, and have greater resilience to disease should result from this.

The novel polymers, the method of forming the biofilm, and the method of polymer cleaving are covered in the patent application.

The patent has been licensed to a company that protects and promotes emerging innovations from public research sources. Crop genetics, crop treatments, precision agriculture and promoter and R&D tools are some of the technologies in agriculture.