Development of novel crop protection technologies using Canadian microbes

由油菜菌核病菌引起的油菜菌核病是造成加拿大油菜种植者农作物损失的主要原因。种植者使用传统的广谱杀菌剂控制菌核病的难度越来越大。因此，种植者正在寻找使用细菌生物防治系统来保护作物的替代方法。在整个生长季节，改善幼苗的建立和对真菌疾病的保护是油菜籽等作物作物表现改善的主要驱动力。因此，寻找新的创新方法来保护这种宝贵的加拿大作物是油菜籽种植者的当务之急。拟议的CRD项目将支持合作研究，并在马尼托巴大学的行业和科学家之间发展协同效应，以调查已建立的细菌生物控制系统在保护油菜籽免受真菌病原体侵袭方面的效果。加拿大贝尔蒙特、德基维特和费尔南多实验室和斯托勒企业公司将共同致力于PA23的商业开发，这是一种以细菌为基础的生物控制系统。通过配方改进、下一代测序和全面的生物信息学方法的组合，我们将发现负责作物保护和农业用地细菌定植的基因和基因调控网络，并揭示PA23和Stoller产品之间的协同作用。我们的工作以创新为动力，将至少培养一名高素质的博士、一名硕士和三名本科生，此外还将培养一名具有生物技术应用专业知识的全职技术人员。这项工作的影响将通过在加拿大和全球种植的作物广泛应用于农业来实现，并将通过基于发现的科学来推动创新。PA23配方的优化和对其遗传和分子作用模式的了解将增加该产品的价值，并改善加拿大的农业经济。我们将开发安全、环保、具有广泛应用潜力的新一代生物杀菌剂，提高产量和底线。

Sclerotinia stem rot caused by the fungal pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is the leading cause of crop lossfor Canadian canola growers. Growers are having increasing difficulties controlling Sclerotinia usingconventional broad spectrum fungicides. Thus, growers are looking for alternative methods of crop protectionusing bacterial biocontrol systems. Improved seedling establishment and protection against fungal disease overthe growing season is a major driver for improved crop performance in crops like canola. Thus, finding newand innovative ways to protect this valuable Canadian crop is an immediate priority for canola growers. Theproposed CRD project will support collaborative research and develop synergies between industry andscientists at the University of Manitoba to investigate the effect of an established bacterial biocontrol system inthe protection of canola against fungal pathogens. Together, the Belmonte, de Kievit and Fernando laboratoriesand Stoller Enterprises Canada will work towards the commercial development of PA23, a biocontrolbacterial-based system. Through a combination of formulation enhancement, next generation sequencing andcomprehensive bioinformatics approaches we will uncover the genes and gene regulatory networks responsiblefor crop protection and bacterial colonization of agricultural land, and reveal synergies between PA23 andStoller products. Our work is driven by innovation and will train at least one highly qualified doctoral, oneMasters, and three undergraduate research students, in addition to a full time technician with expertise in theapplication of biocontrol technologies. The impact of this work will be realized by broad agriculturalapplication to crops grown in Canada and around the globe and will drive innovation through discovery basedscience. Optimization of PA23 formulations and understanding its genetic and molecular mode of action willadd value to this product and improve Canada's agricultural economy. We will develop a new generation ofbiological fungicides that are safe, environmentally friendly, with potential for broad application to improveyield and the bottom line.