THE GREENHOUSES' PATIO

Experience research on the patio

Relax with a refreshing drink or a light meal from the café on the Greenhouses' cosy patio, surrounded by plants that are not only beautiful but are also part of the latest research at Aarhus University.

Did you know that ants do more than protect apple trees from pests? Researchers have discovered that ants produce antibiotic substances, which they spread with their feet as they move across the fruit. This helps protect the apples from diseases such as apple scab. Researchers are even investigating whether this knowledge could contribute to the development of new antibiotics for humans. During the summer, you can spot small containers of sugar water hanging from the apple tree on the patio, attracting ants for this very reason.

Bird's-foot Trefoil – A Plant with Its Own Nitrogen Factory

During the summer, bird's-foot trefoil grows on the patio. It belongs to the legume family, a group of plants with a remarkable ability: they do not require nitrogen fertiliser. Instead, they live in symbiosis with soil bacteria that capture nitrogen from the air. The plant provides the bacteria with sugars and minerals, and in return receives nitrogen.

Researchers at Aarhus University have identified many of the genes that make this symbiosis possible, using bird's-foot trefoil as a model plant in their research. Their goal is to apply this knowledge to help more crops grow without artificial fertilisers, contributing to more sustainable agriculture in the future.