RE: [compost_tea] Re: Soil microbes and Round Up

From: Pawlett, Mark <m.pawlett_at_cranfield.ac.uk>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:33:13 +0000

Hi
Just for clarity, PLFAs is not a functional assay. It gives a phenotypic signature. I’m sure you can appreciate that the two are very different. From PLFA you can get things like fungi:bact ratios from which you can infer functional relationships, but this is still phenotypic signature.
Mark


From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Meagan Hynes
Sent: 17 March 2011 22:05
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Soil microbes and Round Up

Even for molecular or PLFA analysis, most bacteria are examined in terms of functional groups when you are doing community analysis. Unfortunately, I don't think a program combined with a microscope like that would be realistic.

-Meagan

Meagan Hynes, Ph.D.
Soil Consultant
Soil and Plant Laboratory, Inc.
1101 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite G-173
San Jose, CA 95128
Ph: (408) 727-0330
Fax: (408) 727-5125
mhynes_at_soilandplantlaboratory.com<mailto:mhynes_at_soilandplantlaboratory.com>



>>> "Tim Wilson" <thegoodjob_at_hotmail.com> 3/17/2011 2:56 PM >>>


That would be some complex software and the sensing equipment would be very ....hmmmm since bacteria are not discernable visually.

Tim

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com<mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com>, "Dan" <dansquest2005@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Tim,
> There are over 60,000 species of bacteria alone and as you know some are very specific as to being beneficial or detrimental in growing a particular plant. I just thought since we already have the technology. The new microscope that just came out, coupled with a computer software program, it is just a matter of engineering to have soil analysis that would tell you how healthy the soil is, what you could grow in it, as is and if you entered what you wanted to grow it would spit out the needed inputs. Maybe I am over simplifying but to me this doesn't seem too far fetched. It just seems this is the direction organic farming should be headed and maybe we should put the labs on wheels and do almost instantaneous analysis of the soil, much the same way we run medical tests for patients, bring the hospital to the soil so to speak.
>
> Dan in Ct. Where I know I didn't invent the wheel but I did make mine, rounder.
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com<mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com>, "Tim Wilson" <thegoodjob_at_> wrote:
> >
> > Well I think it is too simple for that. You are only dealing with seven groups you need to recognize; bacteria/archea, flagellates, ciliates, naked amoebae, testate amoebae, nematodes, fungal hyphae.
> >
> > These are all identified on my DVD set.
> >
> > Tim
> >
> > --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com<mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com>, "Dan" <dansquest2005_at_> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Tim,
> > > Here in the states, eh, we have these CSI shows on tv where they take a picture of a unknown suspect and scan it and then run it through a computer recognition program and identify the suspect. I was thinking one should be able to do the same with the microbes, a microscopic scan of the soil, run it through the MRS and one would have an indepth analysis. Maybe we could set the operations up at the airports. For background, I spent my summers on my grandparents New Brunswick farm when there was only English on the cereal boxes, so I can speak Canadian.
> > >
> > > Dan in Ct Where thinking usually causes no harm but thunk does and that is the sound thinking makes when it goes wrong.
> > >
> > > --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com<mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com>, "Tim Wilson" <thegoodjob@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dan.
> > > >
> > > > This gives me no help as to what it is.
> > > >
> > > > Tim
> > > >
> > > > --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com<mailto:compost_tea%40yahoogroups.com>, "Dan" <dansquest2005_at_> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Tim,
> > > > > Almost every married agricultural microbiologist with any computer software experience has been working on the MRS for years but if you are close I would love mine in Blu-ray and 3-D.
> > > > >
> > > > > Dan in Ct Where it is hard to believe you can get the big picture looking through a microscope but you can if you stay just this side of nano.
>

Received on Fri Mar 18 2011 - 18:19:59 EDT

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