Microbial agent boosts cherry tomato yields by 21%, gains market traction

Microbial-based eco-friendly agricultural inputs developed by the Rural Development Administration are proving their worth in the field, boosting crop yields and gaining a foothold in the market.

The RDA said Sunday it has built a public-private cooperation framework to verify the effectiveness of microorganisms sourced from domestic soil and bring them to market as commercial products, as part of its efforts to help farmers cope with abnormal weather patterns.

The Bacillus mesonae (H20-5) strain, selected by the RDA in 2017, reduces heat and salt accumulation stress in crops and suppresses bacterial wilt in tomatoes.

Field trials at farms affected by salt accumulation showed cherry tomato yields rose 21.4% and cucumber yields increased by up to 14.5%.

The strain was transferred to industry in 2018 and launched in December 2019 as a commercial microbial product for reducing environmental stress. Farmers using the product reported benefits including reduced salt damage, better moisture retention, improved heat tolerance and larger fruit, the RDA said.

Field research conducted in Vietnam last year also confirmed improvements in rice growth, with yields rising 18.4%, the RDA said.

A second strain, Bacillus siamensis (H30-3), cut damage from combined heat and drought stress by 16.9% and increased Chinese cabbage weight by 26.3%.

The strain also controls soft rot in Chinese cabbage by up to 47 percent while alleviating environmental stress. Launched in March as a commercial product targeting combined stress reduction, it is now being distributed to farms growing peppers, Chinese cabbage, garlic and onions.

Working with domestic eco-friendly agricultural input companies, the RDA has secured nine industrial property rights and completed 24 technology transfers and commercialization projects from 2021 through this year.

Han Sang-hyeon, head of the RDA's Agricultural Microbiology Division, said microbial products strengthen crops' natural resistance, helping them grow normally even amid the climate crisis. "We will continue to develop and distribute eco-friendly microbial products that provide real, practical benefits to farmers," he said.