DNA reveals microorganisms

By using DNA-technology to analyse soil samples, Morten Dueholm from the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University can identify which microorganisms can be found living in the soil of any given field.  The organisms may include bacteria, roundworms, fungi, or other microscopic lifeforms that thrive in symbiosis with the plants. This knowledge is extremely useful as the organisms hold important keys to the growth of crops and plants.

However, mapping is a challenging task. Morten Dueholm estimates that we are still only familiar with and understand a mere fracture of the microorganisms that are found in soil. Often, only small sections of the organisms’ DNA-strings are mapped. This means that the researchers are still unable to name them.

The consequence of nameless organisms is that they are hard to recognize and compare. Morten Dueholm expects a complete overview to be several years ahead in the future. But when we get there, the potential is overwhelming and with colleagues at AAU we are paving the way for this to happen.

A future with no pesticides

With the right knowledge, future farming will be able to utilize the various properties of different microorganisms to avoid using pesticides and instead rely completely on sustainable biologic methods.

The presence of microorganisms is largely reliant of the types of crops that is grown. This means that it is possible – when the various properties of microorganisms have been mapped – to prep the ground for specific plants by rotating different crops between the fields, explains Morten Dueholm.