Alternative to neonicotinoids | Traits of beneficial bacteria are combined with chemicals from thyme
LONDON, Ont. — A scientist at Agriculture Canada’s Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Institute in London hopes to develop an alternative to neonicotinoid seed treatments.
Ze-Chun Yuan also wants to use a bacteria-based seed coating to manage fungal diseases and reduce fertilizer costs.
“We can convert from agricultural products like corn stalks or wheat straw a biopolymer; that’s the seed coating carrier,” Yuan said.
“The second part is a bio-fertilizer … bacteria that can produce (or make available) nutrients for the plants.”
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Work on a bacteria-based biopesticide is just getting underway.
Neonicotinoid seed treatments have been blamed for honeybee deaths around the world, including Ontario. The European Union an-nounced its intention to ban the chemicals this spring.
Yuan is examining a wide range of bacterial species, including “free-living” bacteria capable of fixing nitrogen.
“They form special, symbiotic relationships with crops to do this.”
Yuan is also combining the traits of different beneficial bacteria through genetic modification, which would reduce the number of bacterial species that would be required.
As well, he is researching the use of German winter thyme as a biofumigant in ginseng and radishes. He’s conducting field tests in micro plots this year.
“This is a way to use a bio-fumigant rather than very toxic pesticides. We feel it has real potential.”
Ontario ginseng producers spend as much as $10,000 per acre on chemicals to control a fungal-related, soil-borne disease. Yuan said the economic benefit to growers would be considerable if he’s able to reduce that cost by 20 or 30 percent.
“Not only can you save cash for the growers, there’s also an environmental benefit by reducing pesticides.”
Research has already led to a better understanding of the disease. Last year, Yuan’s team discovered that a nematode is also involved, which was a surprise given ginseng’s pungent nature.
“It (the nematode) forms a special relation relationship with the fungi. It’s very unusual.”
Yuan is working with a colleague to identify the specific nematode species.