Microbe of the month
- ARTIS-Micropia
Each month at ARTIS-Micropia, a special microbe is featured. It’s only on display for that month, so be sure not to miss it!
Which microbe is on display this month?
Do you know what is happening beneath your feet?
An invisible battle is taking place in the soil. Microbes compete for space and nutrients, eliminate each other using antibiotics, and sometimes even eat one another. Some fungi cause diseases in plants and can put entire harvests at risk.
But it’s not all bad news. We can make use of the clever strategies that microbes have been using for millions of years. In this way, they help us fight the ‘bad guys’, the pathogens in agriculture. One of these microscopic heroes is the fungus Trichoderma viride, the Microbe of the Month.
This fungus protects plants in several ways. It attacks other fungi, produces substances that inhibit pathogens, and works together with plants to make them stronger. A true all-rounder.
Curious about this underground battle? Visit the Microbe of the Month in April, next to the laboratory, and discover how Trichoderma viride helps protect our crops.