A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Pest Control Through Microorganism and Plant Collaboration

The research team at Kobe University has discovered a tripartite interaction between potatoes, soil microorganisms, and parasitic nematodes, offering new prospects for the agricultural industry. This study revealed that a new chemical substance secreted by potatoes, "Solanoeclepin C (SEC)," is transformed by soil microorganisms into substances that induce nematode hatching, "Solanoeclepin B (SEB)" and "Solanoeclepin A (SEA)." This discovery suggests a new approach to controlling parasitic nematodes, known as "suicide hatching."

🧪 Overview of the Discovery: Tripartite Interaction of Plants, Microorganisms, and Parasites

The research team led by Professor Masaharu Mizutani at Kobe University clarified the process by which the chemical substance "Solanoeclepin C (SEC)" secreted by potatoes is converted by soil microorganisms into "Solanoeclepin B (SEB)" and further into "Solanoeclepin A (SEA)."These substances function as "hatching factors" that induce the hatching of potato cyst nematodes (PCN).Notably, SEC is secreted by plants in quantities 20 times greater than SEB, and it has been shown to be converted into substances that induce hatching through the action of microorganisms. phys.org

🌱 Application in Agriculture: Nematode Control through Suicide Hatching

This discovery suggests the potential for a new strategy in nematode control in agriculture, known as "suicide hatching."This method involves applying hatching factors to the soil before planting crops, causing parasites to hatch early and die in the absence of a host.This approach is expected to be an environmentally friendly means of nematode control without relying on chemical pesticides. phys.org+1icipe.org+1

🌐 Reactions on Social Media: Attention on the Fusion of Science and Agriculture

This research outcome has become a major topic on social media.Agricultural stakeholders and science enthusiasts have expressed that this is "a step closer to realizing sustainable agriculture by utilizing natural mechanisms."Additionally, opinions such as "the idea of controlling pests by leveraging the power of microorganisms is innovative" have been observed, with expectations for new possibilities through the fusion of science and agriculture.

🔬 Future Prospects: Path to Sustainable Agriculture

Professor Mizutani stated, "The structure of this chemical substance is complex and difficult to synthesize, but if we can find a more easily producible substance with similar effects, its application in agriculture will become realistic."Future research is expected to open the path to sustainable agriculture by elucidating the physiological role of SEC and the details of its interaction with microorganisms.