Supporting the Arboreal Food Web Inspired Brews for Green Vibrancy Biological growers are learning to honor and work with the soil food web in all its amazing complexity. Yet few have penetrated the mysteries of the arboreal food web. As below so above, one might say in carrying ancient wisdom to a next level of understanding. Diverse microbial populations on plant surfaces occupy the very niche that disease pathogens seek. Nutrient mobilization carries forward in deeper ways than our limited grasp of foliar feeding suggests. Agrarians become homegrown cooks extraordinaire when utilizing fatty acids, core nutrients, and fermented herbs to reinforce biological connections on the frontlines of photosynthesis. Add a practical edge to your growing game with commonly available resources that take into account this arboreal realm. 1 As Below, So Above The arboreal food web consists of many the same organisms as in the soil food web. Fungi within green plant tissues play a similar role to root fungi. Even protozoa and nematodes come onto the surface scene. 2 The Soil Food Web Microbe “feeding frenzy” keeps the immobilization / mineralization balance humming right along. Arboreal Team • Aboveground plant parts are colonized by internally living bacteria and fungi (endophytes) and by microbes on the plant surface (epiphytes). • The presence of microorganisms in and on plants must be considered to be the rule, rather than the exception. 3 Onto the Next Generation Fungal spores and bacterial endospores carry forward in the seed. 4 Endophytic Diversity Fungal and bacterial communities within have a characteristic structure: High dominance by a few species coupled with a high number of rare species leading to high total species richness. Plant Benefits • Endophytes have the capacity to biosynthesize plant hormones including IAA, cytokinins, auxins and gibberellins, which are essential for promoting growth. • Trigger resistance to plant pathogens and insect herbivores by inducing an array of systemic resistance responses. • Assist with the translocation of nutrients 5 The Beat Goes On Endophytes have been shown to increase tolerance of hosts to high temperatures, drought, salt stress, and even heavy metal concentrations in soil. Meanwhile on the Surface • The leaf surfaces of plants (with a total surface area estimated at 6 x 10⁸ km2) represent one of the largest and most significant microbial habitats. • Epicuticular colonists, including yeasts, filamentous fungi and protists, live on nutrients that are either deposited as fallout from the atmosphere or exuded from within the leaf. 6 Sharing the Commons Bacteria taxa that are frequently reported in both contexts belong to the genera: • Pseudomonas (commonly P. fluorescens) • Bradyrhizobium • Azorhizobium • Azospirillum • Bacillus (commonly B. thuringiensis) • Lactobacillus Nutrient Transfer Teamwork The mucous layer surrounding fungal hyphae is all bacteria need to be able to move around in soils— and they take full advantage of it. The same pathway exists within plant tissues. 7 Mutualism–Antagonism Continuum The net effects of infection on the host are highly conditional and can shift from mutualism to antagonism for virtually any type of plant–microbe interaction. “For many plants there is absolutely no hard and fast line between the life within the plant and the life of the surrounding soil in which it is living.” Rudolf Steiner speaking on earth forces arising with respect to tree bark as a soil medium 8 Conceptualizing Foliar Feeding Soluble Nutrients Brought into close proximity of roots by capillary action. Root hairs act like “short straws” to suck up the NPK 9 How is selectivity of nutrient uptake achieved? Mineral nutrients are absorbed by plants from the soil solution as ions. An ion is the charged particle formed by the removal or addition of electrons to any particular atom or molecule. The ions have two possible pathways for root uptake: through the cell walls and intercellular spaces and movement cell-to-cell in the symplasm. The pathway is blocked at the endodermis by casparian bands in the cell walls. These barriers force the water and ions to move through cellular membranes if they are to be absorbed by the root. 10 Microbial Nutrient Uptake • Partially built nutrition allots reserve energy for healthy plant metabolism to reach the apex • Fungal exudates and bacterial metabolites Shared Protoplasm Plants and microbes share nutrients in balanced form by means of the “cellular juice” known as protoplasm. Fungal mycelium serves as a system of “much longer straws” for healthy plants! 11 Pore Prospects Respiratory openings on the undersides of leaves are flanked by guard cells that regulate transpiration by opening and closing the stomata. Micropores in the cuticle between guard cells and neighboring cells are more permeable than transcuticular pores elsewhere on the leaf surface. Stomate micropores allow the passage of metal chelates and other larger molecules, whereas transcuticular pores can only take in smaller ions. Furthermore, these nanometer-sized pores are lined with negative charges, so they are attractive to cations (ammonium, calcium, potassium, magnesium) but tend to repel anions (nitrate, phosphate, sulfate). Nutrient uptake into leaf cell cytoplasm works much the same as nutrient uptake by root cells once this passage through the cuticle has been accomplished. 12 Fungal Nexus Endophytic hyphal tips emerging into cuticle act as a “nutrient bridge” between arboreal food web on leaf surface and protoplasm within. 13 Exchangeable Nutrient Sites Positively charged elements (called cations) can be held for transfer to the soil solution for uptake by plants and/or utilized by microbes and then transferred to plants in the form of bacterial metabolites and fungal exudates. Lactobacilli Assist LAB decompose and ferment organic fraction of the soil system converting it into humus containing nutrients while releasing hormones that facilitate plant growth. They are responsible for providing hormones, nutrients and minerals in a useable form to the plants through the root system. 14 Multiple Mechanisms • Bacteria produce short chain fatty acids which increase mineral absorption via solubilization by same. • Lactobacilli are known to produce lactic acid from sugars and carbohydrates the photosynthetic bacteria and yeasts in EM produce. HO footnote • Calcium is ushered • A similar pathway to the growing is assisted by lactic point of leaves and acid bacteria the fruit itself when tending to foliar bonded with dynamics on the phosphate. leaf surface. • Phosphate of calcium does not get integrated into cellular structure. 15 Phosphate’s Role Phosphorous is more often than not the “missing link” with respect to calcium uptake and nutrient density. Higher Brix indicated in soils where P:K ratio runs closer to two to one. A functioning biology is very adept at delivering P. Not to be Overlooked Phosphorous plays a role in calcium translocation within plant tissues. Higher Brix indicated in soils where P:K ratio runs closer to two to one. A functioning biology is very adept at delivering P. 16 “Plants in touch with balanced, exchangeable nutrients provide their own protection against bacterial, fungal, and insect attack.” Charles Walters, Acres USA speaking on the work of Dr. Albrecht and others before “toxic rescue chemistry” became the norm Chelation Chelate complexes enable humic acids to regulate the bioavailability of metal ions present in a plant’s grow environment. Humic acids are water-soluble in water with a pH higher than two. Chelation makes otherwise insoluble nutrients soluble, increasing their bioavailability to crops. 17 18 Holistic Paradigm Induced Systemic Resistance We can stimulate tree immune phytochemistry to “adapt” for coming infection periods. All the subtleties of a living soil must be in place! 19 • Non-pathogenic bacteria Inducing (such as Bacillus spp.) Elicitors • Chemicals produced by infected plants (such as resveratrol in knotweed) • Terpenes, phenols, and alkaloids found in herbs • Compost teas and EM • Ionic minerals (Sea Crop) • Kelp extracts • Humic acid extracts ISR Mechanisms Activating multiple mechanisms with an assortment of foliar inducers is key. 20 The Arboreal Food Web • Introducing biological allies to boost surface populations. • Colonization on the order of 70% outcompetes disease-causing organisms. • Maintaining “natural advantage” requires that we play a stewardship role. Biological Reinforcement Arboreal colonization of friendly organisms on the order of 70% outcompetes disease-causing organisms. 21 Ecological Stresses Working Against Canopy Colonization • Extreme heat • Deep cold • Ultraviolet radiation • Ozone depletion • Acid rain • Dry spells • Use of fungicides • Nitrate fertilization • Limited food resources on the leaf surface Cellular view of leaf x-section 22 Microbes on leaf surface Microbes Unleashed “Do we have to know the names of each of these bacterial and fungal species in order to get them to work for us? No... Let the plants select the active organisms to do the work Nature designed them to do.” Elaine Ingham 23 Cuticle Defense • keys to Ca and S • Or just wait to introduce below Holistic Core Recipe 24 backpack sprayer photo A “fungal curve” coincides with understory actions … fungal curve 1 25 … that can considerably add to our understanding of why we do what we do when we do it. fungal curve 2 Using Holistic Sprays to Further Boost Good Fungal Dynamics Trace Minerals Fatty Acids Microbe Diversity Holistic