FAIR-CT96-3116 Improvement of a process technology to scale-up liquid cultures of biocontrol nematodes

Contacts
Further Information



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FAIR Area 2.2 - Bioprocessing : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT96-3116
	Total Cost	1,450,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	1,100,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/07/1997
	Duration	36 Months

Improvement of a process technology to scale-up liquid cultures of biocontrol nematodes (Heterorhabditis sp.)

Objectives

Technical Approach

The biocontrol potential of insect pathogenic nematodes is not yet fully exploited due to high product costs. The objective of the project is the development of a process technology for the large-scale production of highly effective and low-cost nematode products for the biological control of insect pests. The project is aiming at a decrease of the process duration and operation costs and an increase the process stability, nematode yields and nematode quality.

Expected Results

I. Direct Results

• improved liquid culture process technology
• strains with enhanced culture potential in liquid culture
• improved on-line process control systems
• technique to scale-up liquid cultures
• methods for downstream processing
• standardised quality control methods

II. Indirect Results

• knowledge on genes influencing nematode development and sex determination
• decision support system based on data on nematode growth and development
• results on relation between lipid content and nematode quality

Application

Insect pathogenic nematodes are used in biocontrol of soil-borne insect pests in agriculture, forestry and ornamentals. Progress in the field of mass production biotechnology will increase the use of insect pathogenic nematodes, replace chemical control measures and contribute to the development of safe and sustainable agriculture practice in insect control.

Results to Date

Modelling of the bacterial preculture and the analysis of the bacterial food signal production, inducing the development of the nematode inoculum, resulted in the definition of the optimal inoculation time for liquid culture production of H. bacteriophora. Nematode yields obtained in pilot plant bioreactors confirmed the problems related to low process stability and variable yields. For scale-up experiments a 3000 litre plant was installed. Strain improvement is aiming at adapting nematode development to liquid culture conditions. A method to inject DNA into pre-adult nematode hermaphrodites was developed. A cDNA library was constructed in order to search for the sex determination gene tra-2 described for the closely related nematode C. elegans.

Liquid culture process technology for
production of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

Insect pupa surrounded by nematodes

Contacts

Coordinator

• Dr Ralf-Udo Ehlers / Institut für Phytopathologie Chris Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel / GERMANY

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant

• Waldemar NYSTROM / Bionema AB SWEDEN
• Ann BURNELL / National University of Ireland Maynoot Biology Dept. / IRELAND
• Volcani Center Dept. of Nematology / ISRAEL
• Tillmann FRANK / e-nema GmbH GERMANY