L2M NSERC-Bioengineering attenuated Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strains as bioherbicide for cereal production and lawn management

L2M NSERC-生物工程减毒核盘菌菌株作为谷物生产和草坪管理的生物除草剂

• 批准号: 576545-2022
• 负责人: Li, XinX
• 金额: $ 1.46万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Idea to Innovation
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=760909
• 关键词: L2M; NSERC; Bioengineering; attenuated; Sclerotinia

Weeds cause substantial yield losses in crops and frustrations for city lawn maintainers. Current weed control relies on chemical herbicides such as 2,4-D and glyphosate (Roundup), which can cause significant environmental harm and be overcome by herbicide-resistant weed strains. Furthermore, there are increasing restrictions on the use of chemical herbicides. Here we propose to develop bioherbicides - an alternative sustainable option for organic farming and landscaping. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Ss) is a plant pathogenic fungus can infect and kill almost all dicotyledonous weeds. In contrast, it does not affect most monocots including cereal crops and lawn grasses, and instead may act as a beneficial endophyte. Thus, it has the potential to be used as an efficient bioherbicide agent. However, its ability to form the long-lasting resting bodies called sclerotia prohibits such potential since sclerotia can serve as a spreading agent to infect and damage untargeted dicot plants. Thus, sclerotia forming genes will need to be deleted in order obtain attenuated non-sclerotial forming mutant strains of Ss as a bioherbicide product. We have previously established protocols for the identification of sclerotia forming genes using genomics and molecular biology, and designed methods for the deletion of those genes. Furthermore, we have collaborators who we will work with to develop an optimal formulation for use. Here, we propose to conduct market research on the feasibility of our bioherbicide product. This product has the potential to be useful for many end-users including crop producers, parks maintainers, golf course maintainers, landscapers, and homeowners. We aim to evaluate the market need for the product, and what factors are required for this product be ideal for the consumer. In addition, we will identify the size of addressable market, and analyze the competitive landscape, including barriers to entry. Through the results of this market research will inform future decision-making on this potential bioherbicide product.

杂草会导致农作物大幅减产，并使城市草坪维护者感到沮丧。目前的杂草控制依赖于 2,4-D 和草甘膦（农达）等化学除草剂，这可能会造成严重的环境危害，但可以通过抗除草剂杂草菌株来克服。此外，对化学除草剂的使用也有越来越多的限制。在这里，我们建议开发生物除草剂——有机农业和景观美化的替代可持续选择。 核盘菌(Ss)是一种植物病原真菌，能侵染并杀死几乎所有双子叶杂草。相反，它不会影响大多数单子叶植物，包括谷类作物和草坪草，而是可能充当有益的内生菌。因此，它有潜力用作有效的生物除草剂。然而，它形成称为菌核的长期休眠体的能力阻止了这种潜力，因为菌核可以作为感染和损害非目标双子叶植物的传播剂。因此，需要删除菌核形成基因以获得减毒的非菌核形成Ss突变株作为生物除草剂产品。我们之前已经建立了利用基因组学和分子生物学鉴定菌核形成基因的方案，并设计了删除这些基因的方法。此外，我们还有合作者，我们将与他们合作开发最佳的使用配方。 在此，我们建议对我们的生物除草剂产品的可行性进行市场研究。该产品有可能对许多最终用户有用，包括农作物生产者、公园维护者、高尔夫球场维护者、园林设计师和房主。我们的目标是评估该产品的市场需求，以及该产品需要哪些因素才能成为消费者的理想选择。此外，我们将确定潜在市场的规模，并分析竞争格局，包括进入壁垒。通过这项市场研究的结果将为未来关于这种潜在生物除草剂产品的决策提供信息。