The plan of biological control of fungal pests to control Early Blight disease and citrus postharvest decay

[Based on Biofungicide Biological Pesticide Innovation]

Canada, 2020

Abstract

AntiMyce brand seeks to establish a company in Canada and attract investors. The brand has made an invention in the field of biological control of plant pests which has reached to the mass production stage. AntiMyce, albeit with the help of an investor, intends to mass-produce this product in Canada and under the name of this country and export it to the whole world. This innovative plan is biological control of fungal pests to control Early Blight disease and citrus postharvest decay. One of the most important goals of the project is to produce an organic substitute for antifungal chemicals that will lead to the production of organic crops

Item	License description	Issue date	Licensing organization
1	Top Company of Fars Province, Research Week	2016	Fars provincial government
2	Top Company of Fars Science and Technology Park	2016	Top Company of Fars Science and Technology Park
3	Top Company of Fars Science and Technology Park	2018	2018
4	Acquiring the title of knowledge-based company (by production of a bio-toxin)	2017	Acquiring the title of knowledge-based company (by production of a bio-toxin)
5	Acquiring the title of knowledge-based company (by production of a bio-toxin)	2016	Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade
6	Registering the brand CBSA	2017	Department of Documents, properties, and Trademark ownership registration

Introduction

The production of sufficient good-quality crops is essential to human existence. Plant diseases have ruined crops, bringing widespread famine. Many plant pathogens are fungi that cause tissue decay and eventual death of the host. In addition to destroying plant tissue directly, some plant pathogens spoil crops by producing potent toxins. Fungi are also responsible for food spoilage and the rotting of stored crops.

For example, the fungus Penicillium, It is a major source of post-harvest decay in fruits and is responsible for the widespread post-harvest disease in Citrus fruit known as green rot or green mold.

In infected fruit, very profuse sporulation can be seen – fruit is completely covered by white mycelium followed by green and bluish spores of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum respectively. The typical terpenous odor spreads in the surrounding area where these fungi infect the fruit. It is quite possible that these fungi produce ethylene in sufficient quantities, resulting in the rapid senescence of adjacent fruits. Citrus volatiles and even the synthetic mixtures of ethanol, limonene, acetaldehyde, and CO2 at certain concentrations stimulate the growth of P. digitatum.

Blue mold is more harmful because it spreads in the box and healthy fruits are directly attacked, regardless of injury. Blue mold is a nesting-type pathogen, meaning that it produces enzymes that soften the adjacent fruit and thus allow fungus to enter. Green mold does not spread by nesting; thus, if a single fruit is affected it remains as such without contaminating adjacent fruit. However, spores lead to soiling of fruits and thus require repacking with a box change.

Fungi also cause damage to other types of crops such as tomatoes or potatoes. Mushrooms also damage the plant itself and can destroy a farm in a short time.

For example, Alternaria solani is a fungal pathogen that produces a disease in tomato and potato plants called early blight. The pathogen produces distinctive “bullseye” patterned leaf spots and can also cause stem lesions and fruit rot on tomato and tuber blight on potato. Despite the name “early,” foliar symptoms usually occur on older leaves. If uncontrolled, early blight can cause significant yield reductions Primary methods of controlling this disease, include preventing long periods of wetness on leaf surfaces and applying fungicides. Solani is also present in most potato production regions every year.

Alternaria solani infects stems, leaves and fruits of tomato , potato, eggplant , bell pepper and hot pepper (Capsicumspp.), and other members of the Solanum family.

Tomatoes are the second most consumed product after potatoes. FAO reports that its production in 2012 was about 162 million tons.

Although some varieties of tomato have a relative resistance to early blight disease, most common varieties are susceptible to it. The damage of early blight in tomato in epidemic conditions is reported to be 35 to 70 percent.

The agent of Early Blight in tomatoes is a fungus with scientific name Alternaria Solani. This fungus infects tomato stems, leaves and fruits. This disease causes seedling death in the nursery. Brown circular spots, often surrounded by yellow halo appear on the leaves. The Leaf spots usually appear first on old leaves and proceed upwards. With the development of the disease, the fungus may infect the stems and fruits. The spots on the fruit are similar to those on the leaves with dark brown concentric circles. Dark and powder-like spores are produced from these ring-like spots. Using magnifier the spores can be seen on the spots. The fungus can survive in the soil and residues of infected crops and weeds. The fungus may be seed-borne and spread by wind, water, insects, workers and farm equipment. When the tomato plant is wet, the spores on the plant germinate and infect the leaves. Spores can infiltrate into leaves, stems, or fruits. The fungus is very active in moderate to warm temperatures and in humid climates. During the rainy season, disease activity is more intense. The impact of Early Blight disease is more on under stress plants such as high fruit plants, nematode attack, or severe nitrogen deficiency.

The plants in the family Solanaceae such as tomato, eggplant, green pepper, red pepper and so on are the host of this disease. A variety of fungus that attacks tomatoes is A. solani. In cucumber the fungus A. cucumerinum is the agent of the disease. In tomato in most cases Alternaria fungi is involved, especially in humid or indoors areas. The causative agent of Alternaria in potatoes, especially in wet regions such as coastal areas, is A. alternata. Alternaria spores are very distinct. Alternaria is a seed borne in tomatoes and in tuber borne in potatoes, but the situation is not the same in other crops such as cantaloupe. This fungus survives on organic raw materials and plant residues (in the form of spores), and as long as the plant residues are alive, the fungus is also alive and can produce spores. In tomatoes, Alternaria attacks the branches and sears one side of them. The tomato fruit as well as the point the fruit is attached to the stem will also be attacked by the fungus. In Fars province and in many other parts of the country, Alternaria causes damping off in tomato and potato plants, which usually occur if the seeds or eyes of the potato are contaminated.

The best method of disease management is prevention. Currently, if the disease become established on the plant, its control will be very difficult. By observing the first symptoms of the disease, the only thing may do is using “chemical fungicide”.

After observing the early symptoms of early blight in the field, farmers use protective fungicides such as carbamates, chlorotalonil, copper compounds in 7-day intervals in cool and humid conditions and in 10-day intervals in dry conditions. Sprinkler irrigation and rainfall cause leaching of protective fungicides. In case of intense raining, protective fungicides will be reused.

The use of chemical methods to control the disease is ineffective and the fungicides have no impact on disease control.

Chlorotalonil is highly toxic to fish, birds and aquatic invertebrates. Chlorothalonil causes skin lesions, skin and eye irritation and gastrointestinal problems in humans. As a result, we have been thinking of producing a product that has the least environmental damage and most impact to be a good alternative for chemical fungicides. Currently, production and consumption of organic products has attracted much attention across the world. According to the definition of an organic product (organic products refer to all products made without the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides and genetically modified organisms), non-chemical pesticides will be a great help for this kind of production.

One side effect of fungicides is phytotoxicity, or a toxic effect on beneficial plants. It’s important to use the right type of fungicide on the right plant at the right time, or you may have problems. For instance, the fungicide azoxystrobin, frequently used on grapes, can kill some apple varieties, while trifloxystrobin is harmful to certain grape cultivars but not others. Some fungicides are growth specific, such as triazole + QoI fungicides that cannot be applied to soybeans later than a growth stage known as R5.

Plan idea

Biological control is the best environmental substitute for different chemical pesticides to control plant diseases. Unlike chemical agents, they are less toxic, more useful, easy decomposable in the environment and have less allergic. They do not accumulate in food products and are much cheaper than chemicals.

Through vitro studies, stronger microorganisms were identified and then the effect of this biologic product on blight disease and the decay of stored fruits was confirmed in vitro and in greenhouse environment with different treatments in the form of statistical plans. The biologic product also was tested in the field. The product showed an acceptable result in preventing fungi diseases.

According to macroscopic, microscopic and physiological observations, the product was able to control more than 90% of plant and crop fungal disease. Rats were also tested to control non-toxicity of the biologic product for humans and animals. The oral LD50 was for this biologic product was 9000 mg / kg, which demonstrates the safety of the biological product obtained from useful indigenous soil microorganisms. This product can contribute to economic prosperity, sustainable development and environmental protection. This project supports the organic production of agricultural products.

The plan necessity

Canada is one of the most successful countries in the world in producing bio-fertilizers and biological pesticides. Due to the proximity of Canada to the US, most of these products are manufactured by US-based companies. Manufacturing these products in Canada in addition to job creation, exportation, and self-sufficiency inhibits exchange out of the country. Canada is a scientific country and one of the scientific industrialized countries of the world, so manufacturing products with global standards can help its development. These products due to their high added value can increase economic prosperity and will lead to a boom in other economic sectors such as transportation, raw material production, etc. Manufacturing these products will require cheap and quality raw materials for packaging and will thrive research and development, and improves agriculture in Canada and other countries of the world, and protects the environment

In general, this genus is capable of producing 167 biologically active and effective compounds against microorganisms. The characteristics of Streptomyces that differentiate them as biocontrol agents against fungi are the production of secondary metabolites such as enzymes and antibiotics. They do this by using soil organic matter and bio-buffers, and consist up to 40% of the population of microorganisms in dry soil. The most important enzyme in the control of pests and fungicides is Chitinase enzyme. This enzyme affects ketone and cell walls of the fungus and cause lysis of the cell wall of the fungus.

Technical knowledge description and service provision method

Figure 1: In vitro study of the product on tomato plant

Figure 2: Field study of tomato product in 2015 in Marvdasht plain

Figure 2: Irrigation before transplanting

Figure 3: Irrigation before transplanting

Figure 4: Transplanting tomato plants

Figure 5. Transplanting tomato plants

Figure 6: Flowering stage

Figure 4: Transplanting tomato plants

Figure 8. Injection of phosphate and potash fertilizers

Figure 9. Beginning of fruiting stage

Figure 10. Fruit Growth and beginning of Alternaria Fungi activity

Figure 11. Fruit Growth and beginning of Alternaria Fungi activity and emergence of Early Blight symptoms

Figure 12: Fruit Growth and beginning of Alternaria Fungi activity and emergence the symptoms of Early Blight and disease progression

Figure 13: Fruit Growth and Activity of Alternaria Fungi and emergence of the symptoms of
Early Blight and disease progression

Figure 14. Fruit Growth and beginning of Alternaria Fungi and emergence of the symptoms of Early Blight disease

Figure 15: The beginning of spraying bacteria in different treatments

Figure 15: The beginning of spraying bacteria in different treatments

Figure 16. The field after the first bacterial spraying in different treatments

Vision

To turn to the most customer-oriented agriculture company of the world; a company that all farmers and agriculture centers use its products. We are here to help our clients in the best possible way. We believe in the power of ideas to change attitudes, healthy lifestyles, clean environment and, ultimately, the world. We are here to do our best to remove obstacles and build new markets. We are a company that its mission is to set high standards for environmentally friendly products.

Mission statement

We are committed to provide environmentally friendly bio-pesticides. AntiMyce is also committed to deliver knowledge-based echo-friendly quality product.

Goals:

• Long-term goals

1. To examine global goal markets
2. To establish representatives across the world
3. Development of competitive quality products
4. Attracting the attention of global centers
5. Attend in international exhibitions
6. To hold training workshops across the world

• Mid-term goals

1. Investigating other needs of the market
2. Evaluating the quality of products provided
3. Production of new products such as molecular enzymes
4. Development of different parts of the company
5. Attracting specialized forces of other sections
6. To obtain required permissions to export products
7. To establish active representatives across the country
8. Taking part in related exhibitions
9. Holding training workshops

• Short-term goals

1. Setting up the company office
2. To equip the office
3. Recruit required staff and training them
4. To establish different departments including production, sales, etc.
5. Obtaining required production and sale permissions
6. Manufacturing products
7. Marketing and identifying goal market
8. Communication with research, academic, and diagnostic centers
9. Providing to the market