THE MICRO-FUNGUS CLONOSTACHYS ROSEA : A VERSATILE ORGANIC TOOL FOR PROMOTING THE GROWTH, HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CROPS

Transcription

1 THE MICRO-FUNGUS CLONOSTACHYS ROSEA : A VERSATILE ORGANIC TOOL FOR PROMOTING THE GROWTH, HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CROPS John C. Sutton Department of Environmental Biology University of Guelph ACORN / AOBN Conference, Truro, N.S. 28 February 2009 Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network and Atlantic Organic Berry Network

2 Societal procrastination Denials of problems, resistance to change, often for years before important and beneficial changes are legislated, especially when big $$ at stake (human generation time?) Examples: smoking; chemical pesticides and delay in development of alternatives

3 Winds of change are now very favorable for taking advantage of beneficial microbes. New microbial tools for promoting plant health, productivity, and profitability Favorable public attitudes and legislation in Canada, USA, European countries etc. Fast-growing markets for microbial products: (important for R & D and business success) TODAY; focus on a leading new microbe with major potential for crops in Atlantic Canada. 20 years of research at U of Guelph; current needs to develop crop-specific use protocols

4 Managing and promoting plant health Disease resistance; cultural practices; sanitation measures Disease control practices often depend on natural communities of beneficial microbes in soils, living plants, plant residues Beneficial microbes often A. antagonize / keep down disease organisms and thus diseases; and B. induce natural disease resistance in plants

5 Selecting and capitalizing on the best beneficial microbes 1970s onwards: screening tests for effective microbes; selecting best strains 1988 We isolated 1400 microbes from strawberry plants and tested them against Botrytis in the leaves, flowers and fruits I selected strains of the endophytic fungus Gliocladium roseum (called Clonostachys rosea since 1999) as leading performers. 2009: Commercial products / implementation in in crops

6 What does Clonostachys rosea look like? [ mm ] Spore size

7 How natural is Clonostachys rosea? Occurs in plants and soils from the sub-arctic to the tropics Grows inside roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits of hundreds of kinds of wild plants and crop plants Occurs in numerous kinds of soil types; including moderately acid to extremely alkaline

8 Endophytic cycle of Clonostachys Spores germinate on plant surface Localized colonies in plant tissues Colonies expand rapidly when the plant tissues BEGIN TO SENESCE OR ARE STRESSED Produce spores when tissues die

9 Spore production by Clonostachys on dead leaves, flowers, roots

10 Formulations of Clonostachys rosea Powders for application to seeds, tubers, cuttings, flowers (via bees), soils, artificial soil mixes Wettable powders for suspending in water to use in plants as sprays, drenches, sprenches, dips / immersions Granulars (soils, turf-grasses)

11 Beneficial effects Faster seed germination and emergence Cuttings root faster, fewer losses Faster grafting, increased success Better vegetative growth Flowers and fruits often produced earlier Increased stress resistance / recovery Control of numerous diseases in the field, in shipping and in storage Increased productivity (yield, quality) Nutrient acquisition facilitated. Reduced fertilizer requirements

12 Effects under controlled conditions

13 Effects in the field

14 Beneficial effects Fast recovery of crops from injuries due to stress e.g. Rapid recovery of turf grass from injury (e.g. from diseases, drought, close mowing) Before Clonostachys treatment Same tee, 10 days after treatment

15 Control of pink snow mould

16 Effects on yields Field crops (wheat, barley, peas, flax, soybeans etc) Large scale tests (multi-hectare plots) using seeds treated with Clonostachys rosea formulations. All by growers, standard farm eqpt. Seed yields: Consistent increases of 8 29 % compared to crops from untreated seeds, depending on growing conditions % above fungicide treated seeds

17 Effects on yields Hydroponic cucumbers: earlier fruiting; 9-12 % more marketable fruit per season.

18 Delivery of Clonostachys rosea to flowers by bee vectoring: bumble bees

19 Delivery of Clonostachys rosea to flowers by bee vectoring: honey bees

20 Where are we now and where do we go from here? Excellent formulations Already OMRI-approved (OK for use in organic crops) Registration Develop the right protocols Todd Mason his comments and vision on these

21 Protocols Collaborative effort needed for successful development of appropriate protocols for using Clonostachys rosea in each kind of crop Researchers, R & D personnel, growers, other relevant experts; motivated, understanding of crops, imagination Work together. Share experiences. Learn how best to use this new tool

22 MANY THANKS

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