Bee vectored Clonostachys rosea interactions with three pathogens in high bush blueberries and development of a rapid molecular detection tool

昆特伦理工大学可持续园艺研究所(ISH)和加拿大生物农药公司Bee Vectoring Technology International Inc.(BVT)将合作探索蜜蜂携带的有益内生真菌Clonostachys roSea(品系CR7)的价值，以管理感染不列颠哥伦比亚省高丛蓝莓花的三种病原体：木乃伊浆果、牛痘莫尼利纳-科伦博斯、灰色腐烂、灰霉病和炭疽病。这种真菌的独特作用是它在植物组织中建立，并能防止病原真菌引发感染。这种高度有针对性的应用方法--使用传粉者将有益的真菌传递给花朵--也是新颖的，如果成功，可能有助于用一种环境安全的替代品取代化学杀菌剂的使用。BVT将使用这些数据在加拿大注册这种新的生物杀菌剂，并将其推向市场。当这种产品上市时，农业生产者也将受益，因为它将减少杀菌剂的使用，减少对土壤的沉重设备破坏，并减少农场工作人员管理这些疾病所需的时间；最终降低农业生产成本，同时生产更安全、更健康的蓝莓。研究将使用在该项目中开发的特定分子工具来研究蓝莓植物中内生真菌的行为、持久性和迁移。最终，这项研究将为不列颠哥伦比亚省重要的蓝莓行业带来新的环保型疾病管理产品，培训几名学生和应届毕业生以及一名博士后研究员，了解“绿色”技术的开发和使用，并帮助BVT成为生物农药领域的一家成功公司。微生物生物控制的应用研究领域将是先进的，KPU将扩大其专业知识和能力，与这一快速变化的技术部门的公司合作。

The Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Bee Vectoring Technology International Inc. (BVT), a Canadian bio-pesticide company, will partner to explore the value of a bee vectored beneficial endophytic fungus, Clonostachys rosea (strain CR7) for the management of three pathogens that infect flowers of highbush blueberry in British Columbia; Mummy Berry, Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, Grey Rot, Botrytis cinerea, and Anthracnose Colletotrichum acutatum. The unique action of this fungus is that it establishes in plant tissue and can prevent pathogenic fungi from initiating infection. The highly targeted method of application, using pollinators to deliver the beneficial fungus to flowers, is also novel and if successful, could contribute to replacing use of chemical fungicides with an environmentally safe alternative. BVT will use the data to register the new biofungicide in Canada and make it available to the market. Benefits will also accrue to agricultural producers when this product becomes available, as it will reduce the use of fungicides, lessen heavy equipment damage to soils and lower farm staff time required to manage these diseases; ultimately lowering the cost of agricultural production while producing safer healthier blueberries. Research will study the behaviour, persistence and migration of the endophytic fungus within the blueberry plant using specific molecular tools developed in this project. Ultimately, this research will bring new, environmentally protective products for disease management to the important BC blueberry industry, train several students and new grads and a Post Doctoral Fellow in the development and use of "green" technologies, and assist BVT to become a successful company in the biopesticide sector. The field of applied research in microbial biocontrol will be advanced and KPU will expand its expertise and ability to partner with companies in this rapidly changing technology sector.