We grow crops for the future.
Phosphorus is vital for crop growth, yet its limited availability as insoluble phosphate salts in rocks necessitates resource-intensive processing into fertilizers, depleting finite reserves.
Our team offers a comprehensive solution for a more sustainable future: a dual-pronged approach involving a phytosensor to detect crop phosphate requirements and a smart phosphate biofertilizer. The phytosensor, equipped with a low-phosphate-responsive promoter and a bright GFP reporter, facilitates cost-effective monitoring of phosphate levels in plants. Furthermore, we've engineered bacteria to release insoluble phosphate into the soil by producing gluconic acid in response to plant-released salicylic acid, thereby enhancing phosphate utilization. This innovation holds immense promise in addressing phosphate scarcity and revolutionizing sustainable agriculture practices.