Can we have higher yields and better taste? Using a natural extract from the fungus Pseudozyma aphidis, this method improves the firmness and natural sugar content of crops like tomatoes and melons while significantly boosting production. This discovery offers a practical path to meeting global food demands without compromising the health of the planet or produce quality. Furthermore, because the approach uses stable microbial secretions instead of live cultures, it ensures consistent and reliable performance across various agricultural environments and climates.

Summary: Fungus-powered farming delivers higher yields and better-tasting crops, says study

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that an extract from the yeast-like fungus Pseudozyma aphidis can significantly boost crop yields while improving produce quality. Unlike previous approaches using live fungal cultures — which are difficult to apply consistently at scale — the team used a secreted extract, making results more reliable across different climates and environments.

Testing on tomatoes, corn, and melons showed an 18% improvement in tomato germination rates, flowering one to two weeks earlier, over 60% more ripe tomato fruit by weight, and melon yields five times greater than untreated plants. Tomatoes also scored higher in taste tests for firmness, sweetness, and aroma. The extract works by producing auxin-like plant hormones and siderophores that help plants absorb iron.

The researchers say the approach offers a practical, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, supporting food security without the associated environmental costs. The team plans to continue refining the extraction process to identify the specific compounds responsible for these effects.

  • Cursed_Fig@lemmy.world
    4·
    3 days ago

    Cool!

    It always blows me away that here in the 21st century we’re just starting to figure out how to farm properly. I know the changes will be slow (my family’s farm hasn’t meaningfully changed operations since the '80s) but I’m excited to see what a typical modern (ie: rich person’s) farm looks like in the year 2050.

    • Cursed_Fig@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 days ago

      Another example is that we’ve recently discovered the significance of trees (or shady structures, like awnings or solar panels) in or around fields. Turns out most crops don’t actually prefer 16 hours of direct sunlight! And some partial shade reduces the need for irrigation, to boot.

      Go figure!

    • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
      3·
      2 days ago

      Does “proper farming” leave the field barren or with a less value crop for a year, to regenerate?

    • tburkhol@slrpnk.net
      2·
      3 days ago

      Not a farmer, but my romanticized view of “proper” farming is a partnership with nature to get the whole ecosystem to focus on human-useful products. Apparently, that’s not particularly profitable to the person trying to single-handedly farm a square mile or more, and discoveries like this seem one more way to decouple food production from natural processes. One more step in converting farms into factories.