Market Assessment of Novel Nematicidal Agents to Improve Crop Production

该提案旨在资助一项新型杀线虫剂的市场评估，以提高作物产量。世界各地粮食生产的一个主要威胁是植物寄生线虫(PPN)对作物的破坏。据估计，在全球范围内，PPN每年造成3500亿美元的作物损失。在某些情况下，PPN会使作物减产80%以上。随着全球气温的上升，PPN对作物的侵害率将会增加，更多的PPN物种将成为对加拿大农业的新威胁。显然，PPN对全球粮食安全构成严重威胁。尽管良好的农业实践、生物制品和转基因生物可以减少PPN的侵扰，但4000多种不同的PPN物种找到了规避这些创新的方法。因此，小分子杀线虫剂在PPN控制策略中是必不可少的。出于对环境毒性和人类安全的担忧，有理由对许多有效的杀线虫剂进行限制和禁止，包括熏蒸剂甲基溴以及具有神经毒性的有机磷和氨基甲酸酯。法规限制了可用杀线虫剂的数量，因此对几种PPN物种不再有可靠的防治选择，包括寄生在加拿大土豆、洋葱、西红柿和其他作物上的哈普拉根结线虫。显然有必要开发新的、安全和有效的化学工具来控制PPN。Roy实验室已经开发了一种有效的管道来识别候选杀线虫剂。通过这条管道，罗伊实验室已经确定了9种独特的小分子结构，在实验室测试中可以有效地杀死PPN。该集团已经为其中四个结构申请了临时专利，并正在努力保护其余结构的知识产权。市场评估是获得额外的I2I资金的第一步，这将是将这些杀线虫药物开发成真正的市场上有市场的杀线虫药物的关键。

This proposal seeks to fund a market assessment of novel nematicidal agents to improve crop production. A major threat to food production everywhere is crop destruction by plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs). Globally, PPNs are estimated to cause $350 billion in crop losses every year. In some cases, PPNs reduce crop yield by over 80%. As global temperatures rise, the rate of crop infestation by PPNs will increase and additional PPN species will become new threats to Canadian agriculture. Clearly, PPNs pose a serious threat to global food security.Although sound agricultural practices, biologicals, and GMOs can reduce PPN infestation, the more than 4000 different PPN species find ways to circumvent these innovations. Small molecule nematicides have consequently been essential in PPN control strategies. Concerns over environmental toxicity and human safety have justifiably prompted restrictions and bans on many effective nematicides, including the fumigant methyl bromide, and neurotoxic organophosphates and carbamates. Regulations have limited the number of available nematicides such that there are no longer reliable control options for several PPN species, including Meloidogyne hapla that parasitizes Canadian potatoes, onion, tomatoes and other crops. There is a clear need to develop new, safe and effective chemical tools to control PPNs.The Roy Lab has developped an efficient pipeline with which to identify candidate nematicides. With this pipeline, the Roy Lab has identified 9 unique small molecule stuctures that kill PPNs effectively in laboratory tests. The group has filed provisional patents against four of these structures and is working to secure IP for the remainder. The market assessment is the first step towards securing additional I2I funding that will be key in developing these nematicide hits into bona fide marketable nematicides.