Worm Brew® Microbial Testing: Boosting Disease Suppression

Worm Brew® Microbial Testing: Boosting Disease Suppression

Worm Brew® Microbial Testing: Boosting Disease Suppression

At Worms Downunder, we’ve tested Worm Brew®—our liquid worm cast concentrate—with DNA sequencing and microbial analysis at NATA-accredited labs. For Australian cropping farmers—whether you’re in horticulture, orchards, or broadacre crops like wheat and canola—the results reveal a microbial profile built to fight disease and support plant health. With 36,000,000 cfu/mL and a diverse mix of 1,991 bacterial species and 1,076 eukaryotic species, here’s the data and how it works for your soil.

The Test Results: Microbial Snapshot

The analysis scored Diversity, Resilience, Disease Suppression, and Productivity. Diversity scores (out of 100) reflect species richness and evenness:

  • Bacterial Phyla: Bacteroidetes (93), Proteobacteria (90.4), Verrucomicrobia (85.4), Firmicutes (75.4), Chloroflexi (58), Acidobacteria (48.4), Actinobacteria (27.9), Nitrospirae (21.9), Gemmatimonadetes (4.1).

  • Fungal Classes: Mucoromycota (90.4), Kickxellomycota (86.3), Pseudofungi (80.3), Basidiomycota (75.4), Ascomycota (60.8), Cryptomycota (34.3), Chytridiomycota (20.5).

  • Key Stats: Total plate count: 36,000,000 cfu/mL. “Exceptionally high” disease-suppressive bacteria. High fungal levels via proprietary aeration.

boosting disease supression

How This Benefits Cropping Systems

These microbes are your crop’s defense and support crew. Here’s what they do:

  • Proteobacteria (90.4): Nitrogen cyclers and pathogen suppressors. Species like Pseudomonas produce siderophores, starving Fusarium (apple scab, tomato wilt) of iron, and tackle Xanthomonas in citrus canker. Foliar sprays shield orchard canopies and veg crops in humid zones like coastal NSW.

  • Firmicutes (75.4): Hosts Bacillus subtilis. It churns out lipopeptides to shred Alternaria (early blight in potatoes) and Botrytis (grey mould in strawberries), while boosting plant immunity against powdery mildew in grapes. A foliar win for horticulture.

  • Bacteroidetes (93): Organic matter recyclers. They degrade residues, releasing nutrients to roots and outcompeting soil pathogens like Rhizoctonia in carrots or onions. Top diversity supports soil health in intensive cropping.

  • Ascomycota (60.8): Likely includes Trichoderma harzianum. It parasitizes Sclerotinia (lettuce drop) and Fusarium (banana wilt) with chitinases, enhancing root vigor in orchards. High fungal levels make it a soil-to-leaf asset.

  • Mucoromycota (90.4): Phosphorus solubilizers. They unlock P and micronutrients (e.g., Zn, Fe), vital for fruit trees and nutrient-hungry crops like canola in depleted soils.

  • Chytridiomycota (20.5): Decomposers. Less diverse, but they cycle carbon in wetter soils (e.g., Riverina orchards), aiding root zones indirectly.

  • Actinobacteria (27.9): Antibiotic producers. Streptomyces suppresses soil fungi like Verticillium in almonds or tomatoes, protecting roots in long-season crops.

Nutrients Back It Up

Worm Brew® isn’t a fertiliser—it’s a biological, microbial soil amendment designed to work alongside your nutrients. Lab results show Total N (0.050%), P (13.2 mg/L), K (69.9 mg/L), Fe (8.17 mg/L), Zn (0.479 mg/L), pH 7.29, and EC 0.459 dS/m. These levels, plus fulvic acids and humates, enhance microbial activity and nutrient availability, not replace inputs. We recommend pairing it with your nutrition program (we're aiming to see much lower input costs) for best results, amplifying its disease-fighting and soil-boosting effects.

Cropping Payoff

With 36,000,000 cfu/mL, Worm Brew® delivers via foliar sprays (10-15L/ha) or drenches (20–30 L/ha). Proteobacteria and Firmicutes tackle leaf diseases in apples or tomatoes; Ascomycota and Actinobacteria hit soil pathogens in stone fruit or brassicas; Bacteroidetes and Mucoromycota feed nutrient cycles. Trials show 15–30% fungicide cuts in disease hotspots like the Murray-Darling or Queensland.

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