Silk Coating Could Bring Crops to Unproductive Soils

Silk Coating Could Bring Crops to Unproductive Soils
Nov-26-19
A silk coating for seeds that protects them from high-salinity soils could make it easier to grow food crops in unproductive lands.

The work is an evolution of research by MIT professor Benedetto Marelli to extend the shelf life of seeds using silk coatings. The current coating is made up of silk; a nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobacteria; and trehalose, a sugar that helps the bacteria survive in low-water conditions. These components are combined in water, in which the seeds were soaked to create a coating. In tests, the silk-wrapped seeds proved more successful in sprouting from unproductive soil than their uncoated counterparts. This process is also simple and inexpensive, making it accessible to both small and large-scale farmers.

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