Optimal crop protection depends solely on the quality of the endospores in the final product.
An endospore is an extremely resistant dormant cell structure some bacterial species enter in order to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. The endospore will then rapidly germinate into a viable cell when moisture and nutrients are present as in soil. 100% endospores allow long-time stability and combability with other products.
Chr. Hansen’s extensive know-how and long history of successful production means that we can provide high quality endospores. Central to this is the concentration of living bacteria, or CFU’s (see below) and the speed of germination.
A higher number of CFU’s means a higher number of viable bacteria, leading to faster root colonization, ultimately providing improved plant growth and a higher yield increase when applied to crops.
What is a CFU?
A CFU, or colony-forming unit, is a measurement used to estimate the number of viable bacteria in a sample, for example from a product. When we want to know the amount of microorganisms in a solution of bacteria, it's usually too time-consuming to count every cell individually under the microscope.
By diluting a sample of microbes and spreading it across a petri plate with a nutrient rich media, microbiologists can instead count groups of microbes, called colonies, with the naked eye. Each colony is assumed to have grown from single bacterial cell or a single colony-forming unit (CFU).
We can guarantee that Chr. Hansen Plant Health products contain a larger number of CFU’s, or live bacteria, than most other microbial solutions. This means there are more bacteria to access the roots to better protect and help the plant.
Endospore quality is crucial for plant protection
In the video above, the pace of bacteria concentration is clearly visible over a period of 24 hours.
Faster root colonization for better protection against nematodes
The concentration of bacteria is vital in providing faster and better root protection against nematodes. In the comparison above, Chr. Hansen strains clearly demonstrate superior performance compared to a competitor’s product with bacillus methylotrophicus.
A higher concentration of bacteria means better performance
The more concentrated the bacteria, the faster the roots are colonized – and this ultimately provides improved plant growth and a higher yield increase when applied to crops. In the comparison above, the superior concentration of Chr. Hansen bacteria compared to a competitor’s product with bacillus amyloliquefaciens can be clearly observed.
Why the right strain matters
The comparison studies above provide a visual demonstration of the differences between strains within the same species (bacillus subtilis). The quality of the endospores and fast germination helps protect the plant roots and ultimately, is more likely to increase crop yield.
