A world-first study using DNA samples from
hydroponics is being undertaken through a collaboration between University of
New England (UNE) and Costa, as part of the Future Food Systems Co-operative
Research Centre (CRC).
The CRC’s ‘Tomato rhizobiome’ project’ is designed
to further the understanding of microbial colonies in the root zones of
hydroponically grown greenhouse tomato crops.
A stronger rhizobiome helps plants grow better,
produce more fruit and show greater resilience to pathogens. Once the project
team has a better understanding about the rhizobiome of tomatoes grown in
hydroponic media, they’ll use that knowledge to find ways to foster robust
rhizobiomes in these plants.
All this will be of immense value to growers of
hydroponic crops globally. Hydroponics
play a key role in sustainable food production, as they require less space and
fewer resources than traditional agriculture.
Project lead Dr Gal Winter and industry-embedded
PhD student Phil Thomas, from UNE, have set up trial plots of hydroponic
tomatoes in close collaboration with the Costa Tomato glasshouses at Guyra.
“Hydroponic media are very different from the soil
environment,” Dr Winter explains.
“Crops grown in soil get all the nutrients from the
soil, and it is very, very rich in microorganisms. It’s challenging to study
what’s in the root zone of hydroponic plants, because there isn’t a lot.
“The challenge is, how do we get a population of
microorganisms [in that hydroponically grown plant’s root zone] to support the
plant?”
The team has set up an experimental glasshouse at
UNE to experiment with different probiotic treatments for the plants. Later, this
will be used to test for different pathogens – by introducing pathogens into
the root zones of our trial hydroponically grown tomatoes to see if the
probiotic-treated plants handle them differently.
“Secondly, we have set up trial plants in a ‘sample
slab’ at the Costa Group glasshouse facility in Guyra that emulates Costa’s
standard hydroponic system at the facility; with these, obviously we don’t
create any interference – we just see what is there,” Dr Winter said.
“To the best of my knowledge, this is the
first-ever study that uses DNA metagenomics on hydroponic materials.”
Paul Butterworth,
Technical Development Manager for the Costa glasshouses, says the initial
findings are very promising.
“We believe the project
is progressing nicely and the information already coming from the project is
having an influence on how we look at our crops. Exciting times ahead,” he
said.
Some of the promising initial results include the
creation and demonstration of an effective sampling method to test the
probiotics within the rootzone of hydroponic tomatoes; and the demonstration of
probiotics persisting in the rootzone of hydroponic systems for a period of
time – currently tested at 19 days from inoculation.
University of New England’s Dr Winter said samples
of the root zones of the trial plants were taken by drilling ‘core holes’ into
the slab.
“From these samples, we can ascertain the microbial community through DNA analysis. But rather than employing ‘classic microbiological methods’ – creating cultures, putting them on plates, then examining these under a microscope – we’re using a cutting-edge technique known as metagenomics. It is the most advanced technique available today,” she said.
“It basically takes the DNA and, through DNA
sequencing, identifies a genome of everything that’s there – all the microbes.
We use a piece of equipment known as a MinIon to do this advanced DNA sampling.
The device is so small it could fit in the palm of your hand – it’s amazing.
“The overarching aim, once we understand what’s in
the hydroponic plant’s rhizobiome, is to work out how best to manipulate that
for better plant health.
“Ultimately, that allows us to develop tools for
hydroponic growers that enable them to analyse and understand their plants’
microbiomes on the go – and then say, ‘now I need to apply this or that
treatment’ to strengthen their microbiomes.
“And our study is one of the first to do this sort
of analysis.”
About
the Future Food Systems CRC
The Future Food Systems
Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is a national initiative funded as part of
the Australian Government’s CRC Program and commenced in December 2019. Its
goal is to broker industry-led collaborations between business, researchers and
the community that improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability
of Australia’s agrifood sector, especially in areas of competitive strength.
CRC industry partners include large and small firms across farming, food
manufacturing and technology services that share a vision for increasing
Australia’s ability to value-add agrifood production and build scale in growth
markets for trusted, healthy food and advanced precision-nutrition goods. For
more information about the Future Food Systems CRC, its participants and its
research, visit the CRC’s website www.futurefoodsystems.com.au
About Costa Group
Costa is Australia’s leading
grower, packer and marketer of premium quality fresh fruit and vegetables.
Across Australia, Costa has 5000 planted hectares of farmland, 30 hectares of
glasshouse facilities and three mushroom growing facilities. It also has strategic foreign interests with
majority owned joint ventures covering six blueberry farms in Morocco and four
berry farms in China.
Media enquiries:
Merran White, Communications Manager, Future Food Systems Cooperative Research
Centre, 03 8395 6038 or 0411 728 984
Brigid Veale, Costa Group Public Relations
and Communications Manager, 0427 697 164.
