How Farmers Can Improve Plant Health with Endophytic Microbes: A Conversation with Dr. James White

About this episode

Dr. James White discusses the role of endophytic microbes in improving plant health and resilience.

I've long followed the fascinating research of Dr. James White of Rutgers University in New Jersey. He is a plant pathologist with a PhD in mycology. His specialty is "symbiosis research", particularly the impact of endophytic microbes in plant development and behavior. The nerdiest among you will rejoice at a science-rich episode in which Dr. White helps us understand how bacteria and fungus enter a plant as endophytes to help plants defend against stress, diseases and pests as well as provide the nutrients they need for growth and development. Turns out plants are farmers too! And in many ways we human farmers need to get out of their way and let them do their own work! In this episodes we talk about the rhizophagy cycle, in which microbes – not humans – provide the nutrients plants need. We also talk about how we can support the rhizophagy cycle by boosting soil biology as a whole, something many of you are already doing through regenerative farming. And we talk about how seed production can be adjusted to produce stock for healthier plants and greater resiliency in the face of climate change. So if you're seed saving, make sure you listen closely to that part! What's really…

People in this episode

Host: Jennie Love

Guest: Dr. James White

Topics covered

• endophytic microbes
• plant health
• soil biology
• regenerative farming
• symbiosis research

Keywords

• endophytes
• plant development
• rhizophagy cycle
• soil health
• disease suppression

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Rutgers University

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