How do microbes function as the digestive system for plants?
The root-zone or rhizosphere is the home for many billions of soil bacteria that act as a digestive system for plants by decomposing a wide variety of organic matters, chemicals and nutrients. During the process of photosynthesis, plants generate sugars, organic acids and chlorophyll that combine to form a substance called “mucigel”. This mucigel is then pumped downward to the roots where it is exuded into the root-zone, and serves as a food source for soil microbes. These microbes then utilize the mucigel to produce vitamins, enzymes and amino acids. These microbial products then solublize nutrients present in the soil and release them for uptake back into the root system and throughout the plant system. This process occurs continuously during the plant life cycle.
