Development of Bacillus-based Biological Control Agents for Plant Disease Control

Researchers Involved:

Project Description:

Dr. Jacobsen  has 3 bacillus biocontrol agents that can be used to protect crop plants from several plant diseases. Bacillus mycoides, isolate BmJ is licensed to Montana Microbials Inc (Missoula, MT), is patented based on it’s unique mode of action, (induced systemic resistance through foliar application for control of a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens) and is currently approved for use through the US EPA registration process with first commercial use under EPA experimental use permit on ~10,000 acres sugarbeets in 2006 in MT, ND, MN and MI. A second Bacillus, Bacillus mojavensis  isolate MSU 203-7 is under development because it is a better systemic resistance inducer than BmJ and is covered under our existing patents.  These Bacilli have been demonstrated to control anthracnose, Target leaf spot  bacterial wilt, angular leaf spot of and cucumber mosaic virus on cucurbit crops,  Cercospora leaf spot  and powdery mildew of sugar beet, Botrytis blight of tomato, early blight of potato and Botrytis blight  and Pythium root rot of geraniums. A third Bacillus (Bacillus pumilis isolate Bp16-5) was recently licensed to Montana Microbial Products( MMP) LLC of Missoula, MT.    The basic objective of this project is to identify new potential markets for these Bacillus-based biological controls.