The next generation agriculture:spinach-associated microbes as the new pesticide against plant and food borne pathogens in the agrifood sector

耐药微生物的快速发展，植物病原体新种族的发现以及疾病的不断复发推动了药物发现领域的进步。菠菜提取物（即植物汁液）以次生代谢物的形式产生，对多种微生物病原体具有抗菌活性。有关植物提取物对植物病原体和产生真菌毒素的霉菌的效力的相关文献缺乏。本提案将使用高通量筛选（HTP）方法筛选与不同遗传菠菜植物汁液相关的植物微生物组，以测定其生物活性，包括刺激生长和预防农业和食源性病原体。我们认为：(1)不同品种的二级抗菌代谢物的数量水平不同；(2)植物汁液中的微生物能够独立于宿主合成相同或类似的生物活性二级化合物。全球目标：1；通过（HTP）生物测定法研究植物汁液对不同致病菌的抑菌活性和效力，确定其对(a)真菌致病菌、(b)细菌性食品腐败致病菌的最低抑菌浓度（MIC）。鉴定树液相关微生物，并研究其作为生物农药和/植物生物刺激素的功能。3. 对作为生物农药最有效的部分进行多相测定。4.开发一种使用抗菌活性成分和表面改性高岭土纳米管（HNT）的纳米复合配方，将为延长保质期和提高商业价值提供解决方案。商业产品将在受控的温室条件下进行概念验证评估。可交付成果。纳米配方具有增强的生物利用度和靶向递送产品，以提高再现性和耐久性。

The rapid development of pesticide-resistant microbes, the discovery of new races of phytopathogens, and the constant recurrence of diseases have pushed for advances in the field of drug discovery. Spinach, extracts (i.e., plant sap) in the form of secondary metabolites produced demonstrate antimicrobial activities against a wide range of microbial pathogens. Relevant literature on the potency of plant-derived extracts on phytopathogens and mycotoxin-producing moulds is lacking. This proposal will screen plant- microbiome associated with plant sap from different genetics of spinach using high throughput screening (HTP) assays for bioactivities including growth stimulation and prevention of agriculturally and food borne pathogens. We rationalize that (i) different varieties vary in their quantitative levels of (ii) secondary antimicrobial metabolites and (ii) plant sap harbour microorganisms capable of host-independent biosynthesis of the same or similar bioactive secondary compounds. Global objectives: 1. Study the antimicrobial activity and potency of plant sap against different groups of pathogens by (HTP) bioassays, determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against (a) Fungal pathogens, (b) Bacterial food spoilage pathogens 2. Identify sap associated-microbes and study their functions as biopesticide and/plant biostimulants. 3. Conduct polyphasic assays of the most potent fraction as biopesticide. 4.Develop a nano-composite formulation using the antimicrobial active ingredients and surface modified halloysite nanotubes (HNT) that will provide solutions to extend the shelf-life and improve the commercial value. The commercial products will be evaluated in proof-of-concept under controlled greenhouse conditions. Deliverables. Nano formulations with enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery of the product for increased reproducibility and durability.