Study points to soil microbes as new tool for avocado growers

Scientists have identified a hidden ally in the fight against drought in avocado production: soil bacteria.

Research published in npj Sustainable Agriculture found that beneficial microorganisms living around avocado roots can significantly improve the trees’ ability to cope with water stress. The study focused on avocado orchards in southern Spain, where prolonged drought has become a major challenge for growers.

Researchers found that organically managed soils contained a richer and more diverse microbial community than conventionally managed soils. Among the most promising were bacteria from the Bacillus genus, which are known to support root development, nutrient uptake and plant tolerance to environmental stress.

Greenhouse trials showed that avocado plants treated with selected bacterial strains performed better under water-limited conditions, maintaining stronger growth and showing fewer signs of drought damage than untreated plants.

The findings suggest that future advances in avocado production may come not only from orchard management or breeding programs, but also from improving the biological health of soils. As water scarcity continues to affect major avocado-growing regions, microbial-based solutions could become an important tool for strengthening crop resilience while reducing dependence on external inputs.

Read the full study here.

source: nature.com

photo: wikipedia.org