Microbial biostimulants for enhanced crop yield and nutrient uptake
Metagenom Bio is developing microbial biostimulant products using enrichment strategies that select for beneficial plant growth-promoting bacteria. The approach targets microbes with ACC deaminase and related traits to improve crop resilience, yield, and nutrient efficiency in agricultural and controlled environment systems.
Overview
Metagenom Bio is developing microbial biostimulant products designed to enhance crop yield and improve nutrient uptake efficiency. The core hypothesis is that enriching microbial communities for bacteria with specific metabolic properties linked to plant growth promotion and stress reduction can produce effective biostimulant strains. The approach specifically targets bacteria expressing the ACC deaminase trait, which reduces stress ethylene in crop plants and supports growth and resilience under challenging conditions.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Enrichment-based strain selection targeting bacteria with the ACC deaminase trait and related plant growth-promoting properties
- Validated efficacy through controlled growth chamber experiments and field trials demonstrating yield benefits
- Mutational confirmation showing that disruption of the ACC deaminase gene abolishes plant growth promotion, confirming the mechanistic role of the trait
- Co-occurring beneficial traits identified through genomic and phenotypic analyses, suggesting strains carry multiple plant growth-promoting capabilities
- Strain isolation from soil and greenhouse nutrient effluent sources
- Multi-stage evaluation pipeline including growth chamber screening, small-scale hydroponics testing, and full genome sequencing
- Colonization profiling to determine whether strains associate with the rhizosphere or endosphere of plants
- Compatibility testing for use in mixed inoculant formulations or as standalone products
Technology readiness level
The underlying science has been validated through numerous growth chamber and field experiments confirming yield benefits, with mutational analysis confirming the mechanistic basis. Future validation will focus on characterizing previously isolated candidate strains through growth promotion assays, colonization mode determination, and genome sequencing. Top-performing strains will progress to small-scale hydroponics testing and full genomic characterization to identify candidates suitable for future inoculant products targeting agricultural and controlled environment agriculture applications.
About Metagenom Bio
Metagenom Bio Life Science is a biotechnology company that provides DNA sequencing and environmental microbiome analysis solutions. Their technology stack integrates genomics, bioinformatics, and machine learning to help clients identify microorganisms in complex environmental samples, assess their abundance and functional capabilities, and detect harmful pathogens. The company has developed specialized tools such as the Sox DNA extraction kit, which is designed to produce high-yield, high-purity DNA from challenging environmental materials, including soil, water, and various industrial substrates.
By delivering actionable microbiome data, the company supports clients across multiple sectors, including agriculture, mining, and academic research. Their services enable data-driven decisions for improving biological processes, enhancing crop health in hydroponic and vertical farming systems, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The company also collaborates on research projects and provides diagnostic tools, such as probiotic inoculants, to reduce disease and optimize productivity in controlled environment agricultural settings. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, they work with industry and academic partners to bridge the gap between advanced scientific research and practical industrial application.
delivered to your inbox.