b'FIELDS OF THE FUTUREZayda Morales Moreira examined the effects ofYongfeng Ai and his team at the University of Saskatchewan are helping meet the future of growth environment and plant genotype on the seedthe new food economy. microbiome of canola.plex, challenging to understand, but reallyIf we can identify microorganisms rewarding when you figure out ways thatto produce antifungal or antibiotics and the two go hand-in-hand, Helgason says. inoculate each seed before it is planted, Of course, seed is planted into soil, butwhen that seed starts to germinate, these researchers are finding out that the micro- microbial communities could be activated biome extends far beyond just soil andto help ensure the plant gets a good head onto seed itself. USask PhD student Zaydastart, Moreira says.Morales Moreira is studying just that. JustWE HAVE ONLY as a human receives their first microbiomeTurning Pulses into Food (and a Lot More)from its mothers, a seed may harbourImagine having a specific pulse varietySCRATCHED THE some of the first microorganisms a plantgrown not just for certain food products, encounters.but to make medical materials like band- SURFACE OF HOW PULSE To understand how seed microbiomesages.CROPS CAN BE USED are assembled, Moreira examined theStarch-based fibres could be woven effects of growth environment and plantinto a bandage that wouldnt need to beTO CREATE NEW AND genotype on the seed microbiome ofphysically peeled off the skin, which can canola. She found that seed microbiomessometimes cause further irritation andINNOVATIVE PRODUCTS.differed not only by harvest year andpain. A bandage made from starch fibres Yongfeng Ailocation, but also by the variety of canola,could simply be left on and would dissolve indicating that both genetic and envi- on the skin, just like dissolvable stiches ronmental factors play important roles inthat dont require removal.seed microbiome assembly. These findingsWater bottles made from edible plant suggest that both plant breeding and seedstarch could easily dissolve and return to production conditions could be used tothe earth from where they came, meaning shape beneficial seed microbiomes. fewer concerns about pollution.16GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2021'