ARS科学家最近提出用多种不同微生物包衣玉米种子，使其抵抗因腐霉属和廉刀菌属真菌引起的腐烂病，其效果比用单一的微生物制剂抵抗一种病原菌更好。多种有益细菌和真菌的组合可以抵抗多种病原菌的危害。某些微生物与病原菌有营养竞争关系；一些微生物能产生抗菌素杀死或排斥病 ARS scientists have recently proposed to coat corn seeds with a variety of different microbes to combat rot disease caused by Pythium and Ixomycosis fungi, as opposed to using a single microbial agent to fight a pathogen. The combination of many beneficial bacteria and fungi can withstand the hazards of many pathogens. Some microbes are nutritionally competitive with pathogens; some microbes produce antibiotics that kill or repel disease