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Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme
AGRE-0019: Biological inoculants for seed/plant establishment |
AGRE-0019: Biological inoculants for seed/plant establishment
Science Background
There is considerable interaction between plant roots and bacteria and other microorganisms in 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.
Objectives
The main objective of this project was to provide novel technology to help overcome the problems associated with the utilization of chemicals to control crop diseases, as well as new approaches to improve seed germination and plant growth. The key aspects were screening of bacterial strains for growth promoting and/or disease suppressing abilities; investigation of the properties and regulation or iron uptake systems of Pseudomonas; study of production of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (a potential antifungal agent) by Pseudomonas; development of application and formulation techniques for seed treatments, viability and storage tests; test strains improved by genetic modification of important traits under commercial conditions.
Significant changes and results since end of ECLAIR
During the period of the project, the coordinator, Zaadunie bv (The Netherlands) - a subsidiary of Sandoz Seeds, becoming S&G Seeds. This company became Novartis Seeds in 1996, following the merger of Sandoz with Ciba to form Novartis. A coated radish seed that reduced plant loss to Fusarium wilt by 50% was test marketed for two years. During the test-marketing period, a resistant radish variety, which reduced plant loss by 99%, was developed. Hence, Novartis Seeds have stopped work on this project. Although, it might have been possible to improved the efficacy of the seed coating by genetically modifying the Pseudomonas strains, this was not attempted.
Participants from this project have transferred knowledge from this project, particularly in relation to GMOs, to an impact study ( IMPACT/IMPACT II) of genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) and transgenic plants funded under the Biotechnology Programme. Existing and newly developed GMOs with novel traits are being evaluated in field trials. The GMMs include industrially relevant biofertilizer (Rhizobium, Azospirillum) and biopesticide (Pseudomonas, Trichoderma) inoculants.
Irish Sugar in conjunction with University College Cork (Ireland) have selected and characterised wild-type strains of P. fluorescens that have been used in field trials and shown to provide protection of pelleted sugar beet seeds against Pythium that is as effective as current chemicals.
Agrifutur, Italy is now marketing a soil inoculant (Microflora®) containing beneficial bacteria including Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and other species for use on vegetables and flowers.
Results
At end of this ECLAIR project
Bacterial strains of P. fluorescens, P. putida and P. cepacia (Burkholderia cepacia) were developed and shown to have strong biocontrol or growth improving qualities in extensive greenhouse and field trials. Understanding of the mechanisms controlling iron uptake and synthesis of the 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol was gained, as well as the role of induced resistance in suppression of Fusarium wilt. These results provided a good starting point for the development of commercial biological inoculants for seed/plant establishment, as well as formulation and application techniques. Although further developments were required for commercial applications, it was anticipated that coated seeds would be available in the mid-1990s.
Current position
This project led to the development by Novartis of a coating for radish seeds containing a strain of P. fluorescens. This was test marketed for two years. Trials showed that, when compared with control plots, the new seeds reduced plant loss to Fusarium (a pathogenic fungus) by at least 50%, and the plants were healthier. Although these trials received an enthusiastic response from growers, when the radishes were cultivated under commercial conditions, growers were not convinced of the benefits because some plants were still affected by Fusarium wilt. This, combined with market competition, meant that Novartis could not sell the treated seeds at a higher price than uncoated seeds. During the test-marketing period, the first Fusarium-resistant radish variety was launched by a competitor. This reduced the problems experienced by growers by 99% and growers were prepared to pay a premium for seeds. The efficacy of the Pseudomonas coating could be improved by genetic modification to introduce extra traits into the strains, and indeed some minor enhancement of the strains was carried out. However, it was not considered commercially feasible to continue due to the extra work and time involved in order to get a GMO biocontrol agent into the market place.
Field trials of sugar beet seeds coated with preparations containing P. fluorescens are being carried out by Irish Sugar in conjunction with University College Cork.
Impact
Commercial
As stated above, efforts to commercialize this product have ceased due to the availability of a resistant variety of seed from Novartis Seeds. However, they would consider further work if suitable market opportunities could be identified. The commercial viewpoint of Biocem, France (part of the Limagrain Group), which worked on bacteria seed treatments for maize, is probably similar to that of Novartis.
University College Cork have continued research and have a number of lines under trial that were developed as part of the IMPACT II project (see below). In conjunction with Irish Sugar, they have selected and characterised wild-type strains of P. fluorescens that have been used in field trials and shown to provide protection of pelleted sugar beet seeds that is as effective as current chemicals. UCC have applied for the patent: O’Sullivan, D.I. and O’Gara, F. Regulation of siderophore production. Patent application serial number 07 763 299.
Agrifutur, a commercial participant from Italy, is marketing a line of beneficial organisms, including soil inoculants (under the tradename Microflora®).
Associated
Research continues at State University of Utrecht, particularly on the genetics of Pseudomonas. University College Cork in collaboration with Irish Sugar (Ireland), Zeneca (UK) and research institutes and universities from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany and UK have continued research on technological processes such as seed inoculation, large scale production of inoculants (fermentation technology) and potential biological control products (wild type and GMOs). This has been funded by the Biotechnology Programme IMPACT: Interactions between microbial inoculants and resident populations in the rhizosphere of agronomically important crops in typical soils during 1993 to 1996 and as IMPACT II during 1996 to 1999. The objective of IMPACT II is to study the molecular-ecological interactions of GMOs of commercial interest with indigenous species of the rhizosphere of key European food crops. It intends to generate information and solutions to key issues necessary to improve the commercialization of new plant and microbial biotechnology products. Existing and newly developed GMOs with novel traits have been selected, including industrially relevant biofertilizer (Rhizobium, Azospirillum) and biopesticide (Pseudomonas, Trichoderma) inoculants. Impact studies relating to genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) and transgenic plants will evaluate the genetic basis of interactions between biocontrol agents and the host plant, and the role and activity of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) microorganisms in the rhizosphere. The analysis of these mechanisms and of the genes involved is a prerequisite to predict the fate, the effect and the biosafety of GMMs in the soil environment.
Agrifutur is currently participating in two EC-funded projects:
Further research is being carried out by a completely different team: FAIR-1373: IMPROBIOSEED: Improvement of biological seed treatments against damping-off in crop production. The main aim of the project is to use molecular approaches together with established soil microbiological methods to develop strategies that improve the efficacy of biological seed inoculation. However, it is believed that results from ECLAIR have not been transferred into this new project.
Contacts
Agrifutur Srl
Author
Irish Sugar plc
Novartis Seeds B.V.
Uni Innsbruck Leo Franz
University College Cork
University Utrecht
University of Aberdeen
Universität Bielefeld
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
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