Discussion on Using Fungi to Control Fungi in Seed Sowing
An introduction to the knowledge of succulent plants for netizens who are interested, a brief discussion on using fungi to control fungi in seed sowing, some very useful tips, recommended for collection!
This photo of seed sowing was taken only a few days after the seeds had germinated. The mold on the soil is what I want to discuss.
Most people who sow seeds dislike mold. This winter, I had two trays of fish fry that had been sown for half a year, and during the闷养 process, a large outbreak of white mold occurred, leading to the death of the entire tray. I remember that mold caused the seedlings to become transparent. Of course, by then, the trays were no longer moist. Suddenly, when you least expected it, the white mold would burst out inside the plastic bags, and by the time you noticed, it was too late to apply fungicides. The mold might have already entered the seedlings' bodies, so even after opening the bags and spraying fungicides, the seedlings continued to die, and within a week, all were dead.
The mold in the tray shown in the photo, however, is different. It is a substance called "Active Water Greening Agent," which is essentially EM (Effective Microorganisms) bacteria mixed with certain fertilizers. EM bacteria are applied during the first watering after sowing, directly sprayed onto the soil in a 1000-fold dilution.
Some people may not be familiar with EM bacteria. EM bacteria are not a single type of bacteria but a mixture of 80 beneficial microorganisms from seven groups, including phototrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, Bacillus, acetic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and actinomycetes. Based on their application, they are divided into categories for feed, human health, water treatment, soil, fertilizers, etc. EM stands for Effective Microorganisms. EM bacteria for soil formulations can accelerate the decomposition of organic matter, achieve a balance of soil microflora, produce soil fertility, and improve soil physical properties by forming granules.
I don't know if there are low-quality EM bacteria that might cause bad effects after application, but I know that the EM bacteria in the Active Water Greening Agent have no effect on seed sowing. After applying EM, it can be seen that the seedlings germinate along with the mold growth, which does not harm the seedlings. Instead, it suppresses the growth of certain harmful molds that could become dominant and harm the seedlings. People who work in tissue culture, like Yan Ming, know that there are many molds and other bacterial spores in the air, so sterility in seed sowing usually only achieves a certain level of low菌 count. Even if you use fungicides, it is still impossible to avoid re-contamination after disinfection, and it is difficult to ensure that the bacteria that fall into your tray are not harmful to the seedlings. If such bacteria are not suppressed by other symbiotic microorganisms, they could become dominant and result in a disaster.
Most of the trays in my greenhouse contain EM bacteria, but this time is different. It is for a baseline statistical test. The fish seeds previously sown in this soil were buried with these bacteria. I am experimenting with using fungi to suppress fungi to promote the growth of beneficial microflora and suppress the development of other harmful microflora and occupy their living space.
The current situation is very good because no harmful bacteria have erupted in the trays. Although the seedlings are growing in a mold from EM bacteria, the mortality rate is almost zero. I have also used it in cutting propagation, and the situation seems fine.
What I have described is my experiment with EM bacteria in seed sowing. Of course, one person may make mistakes, and I welcome everyone to correct and participate in the discussion.
The product used here is called "Active Water Greening Agent," which can be found online. For ordinary balcony users, it is recommended to purchase the small bottle because a small amount of bacteria in the soil can reproduce. I have also used another brand before, but I don't remember the name, and the effect was not as obvious, with no immediate爆发 of various molds on the soil surface.
EM bacteria need to survive in a soil that is not too dry. If the soil is completely dry, some bacteria will die. At least part of the soil should be moist. After winter, I usually add a spray application. The effect is particularly good in peat, and the soil remains loose and does not compact when repotting. The soil emits a strong humus odor. I use large bottles in my greenhouse, with one capful diluted in 8 liters of water, so balcony users do not need to buy large bottles as they won't finish them.
The original solution of EM bacteria is alive, so it is not suitable for ultra-low temperature freezing or high-temperature storage. EM bacteria are actually selected from nature to improve soil conditions and are then artificially sprayed to achieve the effect of using fungi to suppress fungi, maintaining a balance of beneficial microflora in the soil, thereby preventing harmful bacteria from having obvious growth advantages and causing significant damage.
The concept of EM bacteria has been known abroad for a long time, and in China, it has been used for orchids quite early. I started using EM bacteria for soil a year ago and have seen no adverse reactions or rotting. As for the growth, I can't say for sure because I haven't done a control group comparison. However, all the plants in my greenhouse are growing very well, and no chemical fertilizers have ever been used.
Now you know the detailed introduction of the discussion on using fungi to control fungi in seed sowing (about EM bacteria).