A major scientific breakthrough in soil and plant biology could help farmers reduce fertiliser use while maintaining high crop yields. Scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, have identified a genetic mutation that strengthens the symbiotic relationship between plants and soil microbes, enabling crops to absorb more nutrients naturally.

The study, recently published in Nature, focused on the legume Medicago truncatula, a model plant species known for its ability to form beneficial partnerships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. Researchers found that a specific genetic mutation enhanced this mutualistic relationship, improving the plant’s ability to extract essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil without relying on synthetic fertilisers.

What makes this discovery particularly exciting is that wheat, a staple food crop, exhibited similar improvements in nutrient absorption when the gene mutation was introduced. This suggests that the findings could be applied across a wide range of commercial crops, helping to cut down fertiliser dependency while maintaining soil health and productivity.

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UK soil breakthrough could cut farm fertiliser use and advance sustainable agriculture