Posters: Just as you drink boldo tea for stomach pain, microbiologist María de las Mercedes Oliva studies how

Eucalyptus for nasal congestion, rosemary for inflammation, valerian for anxiety. These and many other medicinal plants have been used by humans throughout history to treat various ailments. But can they also serve to cure other plants? That is what microbiologist María de las Mercedes Oliva wondered, who within the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology and Health (INBIAS), dependent on the National University of Río Cuarto and Conicet, studies the application of different extracts in the treatment of pathogens that affect crops. "We work with all medicinal plants. We look for their biological properties to apply them, mainly, as antimicrobials. For that, the first thing we need is to identify the pathogen. We isolate it in the field, take leaves, roots, depending on where it is, we separate it from the plant and we grow it in a controlled situation. Then we try to eliminate it," explained the researcher to Bichos de Campo. Check out the full article here: The objective of the ...