Monster Methodology For Sustainability
In the process of domesticating wild plants and turning them into edible crops, their genetic makeup was changed considerably to the point were they can only thrive in an agriculture ecosystem. Any beneficial evolutionary changes for sustainability that can occur over time in the genome are subtle. In other words, adaptation goes unnoticed unless closely observed. While other pepper growers heavily rely on pesticides and fertilizers, we at Monster Peppers don’t use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Growing to improve the evolution of strains towards sustainability requires dedication from the start. Our Monster Peppers use Monster Methods were the focus is in breeding our peppers to become more resilient, which in turn makes it easier for you to grow them. We want pepper crops that can manage well on their own with little help from human influence just like their pre-domesticated ancestors. Fundamentally creating sturdy plants that are survivors for the world of tomorrow.
Breeding For Sustainability
Monster Peppers wants to breed crops that are genetically prone to form relationships with beneficial microbes to boost their growth. When microbes form a symbiotic relationship with crops, then we can reduce the reliance on fertilizers in developing countries, where access to nitrogen is limited, and reduce overfertilization in big agriculture. Having crops that can thrive well in nitrogen-poor soils, due to their ability to engage in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, is vital for any grower around the world. However, there is no universal microbe that all plants can rely on and not all crops are able to recruit beneficial microbes. Domesticated plants tend to have very different microbial communities compared to their relatives in the wild. Monster Peppers is working towards spotting the generic differences between strains through observation to confirm varieties that make the most of the soil microbes they encounter depending on the setting of each environment.
Traits And Benefits
Monster Peppers focuses on breeding plants for sustainability by improving their genetics. We seek out beneficial traits that are useful to the plant and for the grower. We then breed those desired traits to be passed down to future generations, further improving the genome of peppers towards sustainability by creating sturdy variations of strains suited for rural, suburban, and urban households. We strive to study, experiment, and understand peppers through each stage of every grow season using careful observation. Farming and gardening often means working with recurring problems like insects, weather, and soil fertility. In a study published in 2020, scientists found that repeated stress is essentially stored as “memory” in a plant’s genome, which is then passed down to offspring for better adaptability. So, we breed strains to go up against nature's harshest conditions and to be able to withstand pests without the use of pesticides.
The biggest obstacles to growing are the pest and diseases. The everyday consumer lacks experience or extensive knowledge on how to raise their plants. Ultimately these sought-after strains that produce results will have new features and unique traits only bred through isolation and control growing. Here at Monster Peppers we directed evolution with the intent of making them sustainable. We also have in mind what you want: gene swapping only between plant based genes using classic farming practices when growing our chili peppers. Monster Peppers can’t make any promises on these strains having any or all of the traits listed above. Not until we can properly map the genome with some extensive lab equipment and sophisticated computers that will show which strains have what traits. Genetics are a random number generator; however, using our monster growing methods is how we achieve having strong and prosperous plants. It takes monster effort to make quality strains that can tolerate a variety of challenges in a grow season without modern-day bio engineering. As a result, this takes time and we’re constantly working on strains.
Creating Microorganism
Friendly Ecosystems
One of Monster Peppers’ various goals is to study soil microbes that boost plant growth and defense. We would then like to use this knowledge towards effective methods in utilizing these microbial communities to carry out specific grow goals for our peppers. What doesn’t kill you allows you to live long enough to pass down traits to future generations. As we breed plants, we look closely at how they manage their own microbial partners as well overcome environmental factors. Plants are soil or hydro organisms, their roots and foliage are constantly under attack by various microbial pathogens. However, there are root-associated microbial partners which help the plant’s immune system in fighting against pathogens. While the right environmental factors determine the plant’s success in life, co-existing with microbes is big factor in the long run.
What Are Those Contributors?
While sun and rain are important, soil may be the most vital element of them all. Natural soils are thriving with life. They contain diversity of microscopic bacteria, fungi, insects, and other organisms. To put it simply, soil is not just dirt. Soil provides life, directly and indirectly, to all manner of creatures that exist on this planet. Soil is composed by five key forming factors: parent materials (soil type), climate, topography, time, and living organisms.
For now, let's focus on living organisms. These organisms (fungi & diverse bacterial community) within the soil contribute greatly to the health of plant-life. Understanding how to culture these living organisms can help make growing food difficult to fail. However, even the most healthy plants can host potentially harmful bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes in their roots. Oomycetes are some of the most devastating plant pathogens that can cause seedling blight, damping-off, root rot, foliage blight. Plants that can build bonds with beneficial organisms do not succumb to illness as easily. This symbiotic relationship is vital for sustainability.
Benefits of a healthy relationship between plants and Soil organisms
Helps host plant be more tolerant of drought conditions and withstand lower temperatures. (Makes overwintering easier)
Produces chemicals and hormones that stimulate growth and more extensive root systems. (Strong roots have more stress tolerance)
Helps prevent infections from pathogens by coating the roots and boosting the plant’s immune system.
Triggers defense mechanisms during a pathogen attack.
Helps filter out heavy metals and other contaminants from the soil.
Helps improve soil structure and carbon storage (organic matter) for better drainage and reduced erosion.
Converts nutrients into forms that are available for plant roots to absorb
Increases nutrient supply in soil.
It’s all about the rhizosphere!
That’s what we call the root zone in the plant world. This area is inhabited by beneficial microbes that greatly improve the rhizosphere in ways that are important for plant health and development. In order for plants to attract these microbes to their rhizosphere, they release chemicals and nutrients from their roots. These substances are known as rhizodeposits. Due to the fact that every plant releases unique rhizodeposits, every plant’s rhizosphere is different.
Nutrient availability for microbial growth is higher in the rhizosphere compared to bulk of the soil. Rhizodeposits make the rhizosphere a desirable niche for microbial communities to proliferate. Large quantities of these beneficial bacteria help crops in various ways, such as: root growth, yield sizes, and tolerating and surviving changes in the environment.
