AGRE-0019 Biological Inoculants for Seed / Plant Establishment

Contacts
Summary Information



To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
ECLAIR Cluster V - Biological Pest Control : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control : Plant Genetics

Biological Inoculants for Seed / Plant Establishment

SUMMARY

A number of projects funded under the ECLAIR programme, although not directly producing a non-food product from agricultural raw material, are of relevance to crops in general since they aim to develop new methods of pest and disease control, which could reduce cost of raw material production, as well as offering environmental advantages. This Item covers AGRE 0019, aimed to examine the interaction between bacteria and microorganisms and plant growth.

INTRODUCTION

There is considerable interaction between plants and their roots and bacteria and other microoganisms in the soil. Some organisms cause disease, others which may be symbiotic or associative are of benefit because they improve plant health, aid uptake of nutrients and, in some cases, stimulate plant growth by releasing compounds with plant hormone-like activities. This project looked at a number of such effects.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the proposal was to provide novel technology to help to overcome the problems associated with the utilisation of chemicals to control crop diseases, as well as new approaches to improve seed germination and plant growth. The key aspects of the project were to screen bacterial strains for growth promoting and/or disease suppressing abilities; investigate the properties and regulation of the iron uptake systems of Pseudomonas; study the production of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol by Pseudomonas; develop application and formulation techniques for seed treatments, viability and storage tests; as well as improve strains by genetic modification of important traits (iron uptake, antibiotic production). These strains would then be tested under commercial conditions.

RESULTS

Bacterial strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. putida and P.cepacia (recently renamed Burkholderia cepacia) have been developed and shown to have strong biocontrol or growth improving qualities in extensive greenhouse and field trials. The work resulted in a understanding of the synthesis and uptake of siderophores, molecules vital for competition for iron (Fe3+). In addition, the genes controlling synthesis of a potent antifungal agent (2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol) have been characterized and the role of induced resistance in suppressing Fusarium wilt demonstrated for several P. fluorescens strains.

COMMERCIALISATION

These results provide a good starting point for the development of commercial biological inoculants for seed/plant establishment and for the development of formulation and application techniques. Further developments are required for the commercial applications of biological inoculants for seed/plant establishment. However, it is estimated that within 2-3 years seeds coated with biological inoculants will be available.

PARTICIPANTS

Department of Plant Pathology and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Utrecht University (The Netherlands), Department of Food Microbiology, University College (Cork, Ireland), LEMIR/CNRS (Nancy, France), Laboratoire de Technologie des Semences, BIOCEM (France), Irish Sugar plc (Ireland), Agrifutur Srl (Bresica, Italy).