SBIR Phase II: Seed Treatment with Fungal and Bacterial Antagonists for Reducing Corn Damping Off and Root Rot Caused by Species of Pythium and Fusarium

腐霉和镰刀菌的病原菌在天气条件有利于玉米病原菌的生长，且种子没有经过保护性杀菌剂种子处理时，会给玉米生产者造成重大损失。商业上可以用化学种子处理来控制这些病原体对幼苗的影响。然而，商业上还没有有效的治疗方法来控制这些病原体在植物生长后期引起的根腐病和茎腐病。已经确定了一种真菌/细菌拮抗剂，它可以在植物生长的早期阶段有效地控制这些病原菌，并在整个生长季节继续保护它们。这项小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在：(1)确定其他细菌拮抗剂；(2)扩大生防发酵过程；(3)建立大规模的下游加工、包装和储存程序；(4)在田间试验中评估生防剂；(5)评估生防剂的稳定性；(6)评估生防剂的根部定植。第三阶段的商业化将涉及美国环保局对测试产品的批准和营销。该项目旨在为玉米开发具有商业可行性的生物病害防治剂。由于预计该产品将有效地提供长时间的疾病控制，而目前的化学杀菌剂不能，预计杂交种子公司将容易接受更有效的替代产品。这种产品在美国的市场潜力估计超过1.5亿美元。

The disease pathogens of Pythium and Fusarium cause significant losses to corn producers when weather conditions are conducive to the plant pathogens and the seed is not pretreated with a protective fungicide seed treatment. Chemical seed treatments are commercially available to control the effects of these pathogens on seedlings. However, no effective treatment is commercially available to control the root and stalk rots that these pathogens cause in later growth stages of the plant. A combination fungal/bacterial antagonist has been identified that may effectively control these pathogens in the early plant growth stages with continued protection thoughout the growing season. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is directed toward: (1) identifying additonal bacterial antagonists; (2) scaling up of biocontrol fermentation processes; (3) establishing large scale procedures for downstream processing, packaging, and storage; (4) evaluating biocontrol agents in field trials; (5) assessing the stability of the biocontrol agents; and, (6) assessing root colonization of the biocontrol agents. Phase III commercialization will involve EPA approval and marketing of the tested product. This project is designed to develop commercially viable biological disease control agents for corn. Because the product is expected to effectively provide season long disease control, and the present chemical fungicides do not, it is anticipated that hybrid seed companies would readily accept an alternative product that is more effective. The US market potential for this product is estimated to be in excess of 150 million dollars.