When you stop and think about a seed, it’s really quite incredible what is contained within the tiny structure. A seed contains the genetic information needed to produce a new plant along with sources of energy to help the seedling get started. Recent research reveals that a seed can contain even more resources. The outside of a seed can be covered with microorganisms that can help the plant grow. The microorganisms remain dormant until the seed germinates and then they colonize the newly emerging roots.
Scientists found that the community of plant growth-promoting bacteria on tomato seeds somewhat reflected the growing environment of the parent plant. Seeds from plants grown in the field were dominated by bacteria that can control plant diseases. In contrast, seeds grown in the lab with no pathogens and a low level of nutrients were hosts to relatively more bacteria that help plants access nutrients and fewer bacteria that control plant disease.
While the researchers suggest the findings may be used to develop seed treatments, another take-home message could be to use seed from plants grown in similar conditions to your own growing conditions.
Source: Bergna, Alessandro, Tomislav Cernava, Manuela Rändler, Rita Grosch, Christin Zachow, Gabriele Berg. 2018. Tomato Seeds Preferably Transmit Plant Beneficial Endophytes. Phytobiomes Journal. Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages 183-193.