What are endophytes?
Endophytes are beneficial microbes that symbiotically live inside of plant tissues and play a vital role in plant health and nutrient acquisition. Intrinsyx Bio has developed sustainable agricultural products using endophytes discovered in nutrient poor and extreme environments. These endophytes fix atmospheric nitrogen directly into the plant, while increasing the availability and uptake of phosphorus and other nutrients important for plant health. Learn why it’s so important to reduce our use of nitrogen fertilizers.
How the science works
When Intrinsyx Bio products are applied as seed treatment, foliar, in-furrow, or granular formulations, the endophytes enter and colonize plants through cracks at lateral root junctions, as pictured below in fluorescent imaging.
Endophytes entering plant through root crack entry
Endophytes move to colonize the corn plant in vascular tissue cells primarily in the root, stalk, and leaf petioles
Endophytes colonizing wheat stem vascular tissue and epidermis
Once the endophytes are inside of the plant, they multiply and readily colonize the vascular tissues in the roots, stems, and leaves. These beneficial microbes grow with the host plant and continue delivering nutrients and benefits throughout the growing season.
Intrinsyx Bio has also identified synergistic combinations of endophytes for greater effect and stacking of benefits for the host plant. All of our products combine endophytes that fix nitrogen with endophytes that mobilize phosphorus. This unique combination of nitrogen fixing and phosphorus mobilizing microbes contributes to plant health, yield, and overall crop productivity. Without sufficient phosphorus, the plant is limited in its ability to use nitrogen efficiently.
Enhanced root hair growth in winter wheat with endophyte seed treatment
Localization of two endophytes colonized in the stem vasculature