SBIR Phase I: Novel chemistry for enhancing drought tolerance in field crops

这个项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是使美国农民能够通过减少主要商业作物的水足迹来适应气候变化。干旱是农民、农村经济和粮食供应链面临的最大风险之一；有限的降水和灌溉是制约作物生产力的主要因素。气候变化有可能通过改变美洲最多产农业区的降雨模式和天气条件，进一步加剧干旱造成的作物损失。2012年，由于严重干旱，美国玉米产量比上年下降了20%。即使在与干旱相关的作物损失不是由农民直接承担的情况下，美国经济也能感受到其影响。2012年，联邦农作物保险计划支付了创纪录的173亿美元保险索赔。虽然在田间管理和开发耐旱作物方面取得了可喜的进展，但目前还没有一种作物保护产品能够提高田间作物在缺水胁迫时期的健壮性。一种可以应用于农田以减少灌溉需求和提高产量的产品将是一流的。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发化学物质，以加强主要大田作物的抗旱保护和增产，重点是玉米。非生物胁迫（干旱、盐胁迫和热胁迫等）是收成产量的主要限制因素，在水资源有限的情况下，种植者提高产量和降低风险的工具很少。Asilomar Bio发现了一种合成化合物，可以增强作物对非生物胁迫的耐受性，并在田间试验中提高产量。该新型活性成分应用于作物叶面喷雾或种子处理。本提案的目的是确定这类新型化合物的构效关系，并对该领域中具有代表性的化合物的剂量反应行为进行基准测试。研究目标的成功完成将增强对玉米抗逆性保护和水分利用的理解，并为该技术的商业化提供背景

pThe broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to enable American farmers to adapt to climate change by reducing the water footprint of major commercial crops. Drought is one of the most significant risks for farmers, rural economies, and the food supply chain; limited precipitation and irrigation acts as a major constraint on crop productivity. Climate change threatens to further exacerbate crop losses due to drought by shifting rainfall patterns and weather conditions across Americas most productive agricultural regions. In 2012, US corn production was 20% below the previous year due to a severe drought. Even in cases where drought related crop losses are not borne directly by farmers, the effects are felt by the US economy. The Federal Crop Insurance Program paid out a record $17.3 billion in insurance claims during 2012. While there have been promising advances in field management and in the development of drought tolerant crops, there is currently no crop protection product that enhances the robustness of field crops to periods of water-limitation stress. A product that could be applied to fields to reduce irrigation needs and boost yield would be first in class./p pThis Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop chemistry for enhanced drought protection and yield enhancement in major field crops, with a focus on corn. Abiotic stress (drought, salinity, and heat stress, among others) is a major limitation on harvest yield, with few tools available for growers to enhance yields and minimize risk in the face of limited water. Asilomar Bio has discovered a synthetic compound that enhances crop tolerance to abiotic stress and enhances yield in field trials. The novel active ingredient is applied as a foliar spray or seed treatment to crops. The objectives of this proposal are the determination of structure-activity relationship of this novel class of compounds and benchmarking the dose-response behavior of a representative compound in the field. Successful completion of research objectives will result in enhanced understanding of stress protection and water use in corn as well as provide context for commercialization of this technology./p