A microscopic organism that thrives in the most inhospitable environments on the planet could be a serious weapon against costly and dangerous microbes, including one that decimates apple and pear orchards.
A microscopic organism that thrives in the most inhospitable environments on the planet could be a serious weapon against costly and dangerous microbes, including one that decimates apple and pear orchards.
For nearly a decade, Washington State University researcher Cynthia Haseltine has been quietly studying an extremophilic archaeon — a microorganism from a unique branch of life including microbes known for surviving in boiling acid, deep-sea vents and salt crystals — and using it to derive a compound that is highly effective against a wide range of pathogens affecting plants, animals and humans.
In a lab setting, the compound appears to be particularly potent against fire blight, one of the most destructive diseases in apple and pear crops. Haseltine is hoping to expand her efforts to the field and begin working with commercial partners and producers.
Read more at: Washington State University
Apples grow in a test plot at WSU's Sunrise Research Orchard at Wenatchee. A WSU researcher has demonstrated that a microscopic organism that thrives in harsh environments could be a tool to fight destructive and costly pathogens in apple orchards. (Photo Credit: Robert Hubner/WSU Photo Services).
