In December 2012, Gwyn Beattie, professor of plant pathology and microbiology, along with 26 other participants from colleges around the nation convened to report how plant microbes could produce more yields for the agricultural community.

The question posed, Beattie said, was: To what extent can microbes help agricultural productivity?

Beattie said that the reports main message described that microbes actually do a lot for the plants.

We know there is bacteria and fungi that are associated with plants that provide nutrients, Beattie said.

The aspect of plant microbes helping agriculture has not been fully appreciated yet, Beattie said.

For example, when youre developing new corn lines you develop them in a field where you provide them high levels of fertilizer," Beattie said. "That high level of fertilizer prevents the microbial benefit that the microbes might be providing if the fertilizer wasnt there."

When plants are given the right opportunity under breeding conditions, it is possible to get the microbes to work for the plant,Beattie said.

Specifically, the research Beattie is working with consists of resolving the significant losses of phosphorous in fertilizers.

There are fungi in 80 percent of plants, and they effect the roots," Beattie said. "They establish a symbiosis with the root system and extend into the root system, so they become essentially part of the roots, and they funnel phosphorous into the plant.

Beattie said she is trying enhance the use of the fungi as opposed to mining phosphorous and applying it in fertilizers.

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Report: Plant microbes might help agriculture produce higher yields