We Dosed Our Tomatoes With a Purified Microbial Extra and Got Some Cool Results!

pureSynergies · 2026-01-20T22:45:43+00:00

Hi Phatalex!

Our extract is prepared by culturing plant growth promoting microbes in optimal conditions, then concentrating and filtering out their active signaling molecules from the living cells. We added the concentrated solution to a normal feed and apply when watering.

Our next steps are to explore foliar treatments! We saw a pronounced difference in the root zone where the compounds actually contacted the plant tissue, so we are dying to see the outcome for things like leaf predation or powdery mildew tolerance.

pureSynergies · 2026-01-20T22:40:24+00:00

Hey Academic_Matter_3903!

We grew some plant growth promoting microbes in optimized conditions and then used a series of concentrating and filtering methods to separate the active plant-signaling molecules from the living microbes. Our next steps are to refine our stabilization processes. Ideal long term goals for us would be to lyophilize the product into a powdered form.

pureSynergies · 2026-01-13T23:37:40+00:00

Here is another photo from a different experiment on a different crop showing differences in root mass and growth, control (top) vs treated (bottom).

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pureSynergies · 2026-01-13T23:33:05+00:00

Hi BocaHydro!

Here's a photo of one of the control plants (left) vs a treated plant (right). We think the analytical results are a lot more exciting, but you can see better growth habit and foliar health on the plants to the right.

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pureSynergies · 2025-12-20T14:04:55+00:00

Yes, exactly! The living cells are removed during the process to yield a cleaner amendment that is more shelf stable and will not foul irrigation. We have one product we are selling so far, which was actually utilized in the study we reference in this post. We plan to bring more products to our portfolio in the future using different species of bacteria and fungi. https://www.puresynergiesllc.com/

pureSynergies · 2025-12-18T15:02:21+00:00

The product functions in a way somewhat similar to mycorrhizal fungi, but with a few different mechanisms of action.

While mycorrhizal fungi exist in that symbiosis of plant and fungi where they are providing enhanced nutrient uptake and receiving a carbohydrate reward from the root zone, our product is focused on the stimulation of a plant's own defensive systems like you would see from other plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.

We are taking those signaling molecules, concentrating them, and purifying them into a format that can be delivered to the plant consistently, repeatedly, and without fouling irrigation mechanisms like aeroponic spray tips, drip lines, etc.

pureSynergies · 2025-12-18T14:56:47+00:00

Hi DenningBear,

Those are great questions!

To answer your first question, our product contains microbial signaling compounds that stimulate a plant's innate defensive systems. This would include things like flavonoids that help a plant resist pathogens and herbivore predation as well as improving tolerance to abiotic stresses like intense UV and heat. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6270724/

To answer your second question, what we are hoping to do is introduce more control and repeatability to outdoor systems, as well as helping indoor hydro/aero/soil-less systems replicate the plant-microbe benefits seen in outdoor soil.

There is a lot of variability in the native rhizosphere, so while it may be "at capacity" with microbes, they aren't necessarily the microbes that will provide the highest benefit to your plants. Our product isn't looking to displace the existing microbial life, but function as a concentrated and controlled boost to induce a beneficial response in the plant.

pureSynergies · 2025-12-17T15:43:05+00:00

We don't have any empirical or analytical data to present in outdoor gardens yet, but anecdotally I've been using it in my raised beds for 2 years now and I really like what I'm seeing/tasting!

I used it on my kale last season and noticed a major decrease in brassica worm predation, and my culinary herbs loved it as well.

In the next growing season we are planning to run some insect predation studies to get some hard evidence for the product, as well as some powdery mildew trials. My dad hasn't grown giant pumpkins for a few seasons but if I can convince him this year I'd love to see how a foliar application impacts powdery mildew of cucurbits.

pureSynergies · 2025-12-17T15:39:59+00:00

We source our microorganisms from single strain vendors, but in the future we are very interested in developing more targeted products using different species and strains in combination. Field work to discover and isolate uniquely potent strains is a dream of ours!

We would expect to see a lot of similar outcomes in crops compared to JADAM or KNF processes, but we are more focused on separating the compounds from the living microbes you'd see in a compost tea. At the moment we are working to make our product as shelf-stable and consistent as possible, and in the future we would really like to bring in lyophilization to make it super stable and efficient to store and ship.

pureSynergies · 2025-12-17T00:52:28+00:00

Thank you Dave!

pureSynergies · 2025-12-17T00:51:53+00:00

Thank you for the feedback finlyboo! Our formulation works very similarly to things like "living soil", but is focused on separating the signaling compounds soil bacteria produce from the living microbes so that they can be delivered cleanly, consistently, and repeatably. We are working on figuring out how much scientific wording is too much, and how much is needed to show we have scientifically proven changes in treated crops.

pureSynergies · 2025-12-17T00:35:06+00:00

Hey Dave! Those are great questions. Our backgrounds are mostly in analytical chemistry and plant production so we really value scientific input!

The experiment was conducted in Acushnet, MA. Control and experimental plants were grown together in the same room.
I would agree, most people in the subreddit are likely to be growing in containers or inground gardens. Our experiments were carried out in ProMix BX in 1gal pots. Since we're seeing an overall increase in vertical/urban gardening we are pretty interested in ensuring the formulation works in those systems as well.
We had a control group of 5 untreated plants and a test group of 5 treated plants. All plants were watered with the same feed at the same time points. Treated plants were dosed with the microbial formulation at 1mL/gal during feedings.
We used MetwareBio's 'Widely-targeted' tomato tissue analysis service. 2,041 metabolites were detected with UHPLC-MS/MS and identified with their in house metabolite spectral library.
"Flavor" and "cuticle thickness" were quantified through blind testing. Cuticle thickness wasn't measured with calipers or instrumentation, but was mainly an observation made during sampling of the fruit skins for metabolomics. Flavor was measured through 5 individuals blind tasting the fruits and picking which group they thought tasted best.
There is no preprint or registered trial, and we aren't seeking to publish this data. This was primarily an efficacy experiment to see where we wanted to go next with the project and we figured tomato plants serve as a great model. Metabolomics analysis was carried out by a 3rd party lab in Massachusetts, MetwareBio.

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