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Research Project:
Microbial Production and Formulation Technologies for Biocontrol of Fungal Plant Diseases
Location:
Crop Bioprotection Research
Project Number: 3620-22410-007-00
Project Type:
Appropriated
Start Date: Apr 24, 2003
End Date: Apr 23, 2008
Objective:
To develop and execute commercial practice-oriented biocontrol agent selection strategies to discover agents for use against Fusarium head blight of wheat, potato storage diseases, or other emergent plant diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture. To develop liquid cultivation and formulation protocols that support the production of a stabilized biocontrol product that maintains superior levels of viability and efficacy over time in storage or in the field. To discover the genetic and metabolic mechanisms that foster microbial stress tolerance of metabolite accumulations, osmotic shifts, drying, and long-term storage.
Approach:
Depending on the pathosystem chosen for selecting biocontrol strains, whole microbial populations or individual candidate strains selected from key pathogen infection sites will be assayed against multiple pathogen strains using whole plant system bioassays that mimic natural infection conditions. Strains or populations may be prescreened for a biological characteristic of known utility in supressing plant disease. Industrial economics and market needs will be considered in crafting novel screens to select optimal biocontrol products and manufacturing processes. Use batch liquid cultivation techniques to develop biomass production media and protocols to maximize biomass quantity and quality; efficacy; survival of processing (dewatering and/or drying processes such as freeze-, air-, or spray-drying), formulation and storage; and host compatibility. Utilize DNA micro array technology to discover genes involved in biocontrol agent cell response to environmental stresses, especially those encountered during drying. Employ knowledge of stress response genes to design novel reporter-gene technologies, microbial cultivation protocols and down stream processing systems to foster and retain desired gene expression for surviving stress.
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