Microbial allies against drought stress: an optimized screening method to improve seedling survival for forest restorations.
Magosch S, Barrera C, Bölz A, Pritsch K, Rothballer M
Climate Adaptation
As droughts become more frequent, the microbes living in forest soil could be a natural, low-cost tool for helping trees survive — which means healthier forests, cleaner air, and more resilient parks and green spaces for everyone.
Scientists collected tiny microbes — bacteria and fungi — from the roots of trees in drought-prone forests in Germany. They tested over a thousand of these microbes to find ones that help young trees grow better or survive without much water. They found a handful of bacteria that gave seedlings a real boost, and some fungi that were remarkably tough under dry conditions — all of which could one day be used like a probiotic treatment for trees planted in restoration projects.
Key Findings
1,292 bacteria and 59 fungi were isolated from Norway spruce and European beech roots; the most common bacteria genus was Paraburkholderia (121 isolates).
6 bacterial strains significantly promoted seedling growth under normal watering, while 2 strains improved survival and root length specifically under drought stress.
A new 24-well plate lab system was developed to efficiently screen microbe-seedling interactions under drought, enabling larger-scale testing than previously possible.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers identified beneficial soil microbes from drought-stressed German forests that help tree seedlings survive dry conditions, developing a practical lab screening method to find the best candidates for forest restoration projects.
Abstract Preview
Improving drought tolerance of tree seedlings by plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) is a promising approach for nature-based forest restoration. Identifying suitable microorganisms requi...
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