464: Prodding Pollen's Popping Process

<p>This episode: Certain nectar-dwelling bacteria can induce pollen to germinate to access their tasty proteins!</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href= "http://traffic.libsyn.com/bacteriofiles/BF464.mp3">Download Episode</a></span> (6.0 MB, 8.8 minutes)<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Show notes:</span><br /> Microbe of the episode: <em>Clostridium oceanicum</em></p> <div> </div> <div><a href= "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728201401.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News item</a><br /> <div> </div> <div> <div><strong>Takeaways</strong></div> <div> <div> <div>Nectar in flowers seems like it would be a great place for microbes to live, since it has so much sugar, but it's actually somewhat difficult to thrive solely in and on nectar. The carbon in sugar is only one essential element for life, and there's enough of it that it can be overwhelming to the osmotic balance of many microbes. Pollen could provide more nutrients in the form of protein...