Development of novel crop protection technologies using Canadian microbes

菌核菌茎腐病由菌核菌引起，是加拿大油菜籽种植者作物损失的主要原因。种植者越来越难以使用传统的广谱杀菌剂控制菌核菌。因此，种植者正在寻找使用细菌生物防治系统的作物保护替代方法。在整个生长季节，改良秧苗建立和防止真菌病是提高油菜籽等作物产量的主要驱动因素。因此，寻找新的和创新的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，并在曼尼托巴大学的工业界和科学家之间发展协同效应，以调查已建立的细菌生物防治系统在保护油菜免受真菌病原体侵害方面的效果。Belmonte， de Kievit和Fernando实验室以及加拿大Stoller企业将共同致力于PA23的商业开发，这是一种基于生物控制细菌的系统。通过配方增强、下一代测序和综合生物信息学方法的结合，我们将揭示作物保护和农业土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，将培养至少一名高素质的博士，一名硕士，三名本科研究生，以及一名具有生物防治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范围内种植的作物的广泛农业应用来实现，并将通过基于发现的科学推动创新。优化PA23的配方，了解其基因和分子作用模式，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，以提高产量和利润。

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.