In December, at a conference organised by the Association of Applied Biologists, Drs Pat Haydock from Harper Adams University College and David Crump of BioNem Ltd reported on their research to control potato cyst nematodes using naturally occurring fungi.
In spite of the widespread use of an integrated management approach for the potato cyst nematodes they remain the most important factor limiting the efficient production of potatoes in the UK. The naturally occurring soil born fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia is an effective parasite of cyst nematodes. BioNem Ltd has been working with Harper Adams for several years with the key aim of getting a low cost, easy to use biological control agent for potato cyst nematodes out to growers as soon as possible.
`Growers need a biological control agent that is cost effective and easy to apply` comments Dr Crump.
BioNem Ltd has isolated a particularly effective strain of this fungus from potato cyst nematode suppressive soils in the UK and a pilot production plant has been established at Harper Adams. This is a low-technology production system utilising grain as a growth medium. The resultant soil-amendment can then be easily incorporated into potato-beds using commercial farm equipment.
`This production system removes the need for complex and expensive fungal extraction processes and the associated manufacturing systems needed to produce a conventional formulation that may have a very limited shelf-life`.
This biological control agent has been used in field experiments in Shropshire. In a field experiment planted with the cultivar Estima and managed according to commercial practice the untreated control plots showed a mean nematode multiplication rate of 10 (Pi = 15, Pf= 157 eggs/g soil) that was reduced to 5 (Pi= 13, Pf= 66 eggs/g soil) when treated with P. chlamydosporia.
`This research demonstrates for the first time that this agent can reduce potato cyst nematode reproductive rates in a commercial field situation. A 50% reduction in nematode multiplication is a major contribution to a sustainable integrated control programme for potato cyst nematodes` says Dr Haydock
Dr Crump comments `We have shown that the isolates of the fungus that we have controls nematodes, butt have been unable to secure the funds necessary to get the final development work necessary to produce a commercial product. This research programme is the nearest to commercial application in the UK. With a relatively small amount of additional funding we would be able to get a commercial product to growers within 3 to 4 years`.
According to Dr Haydock `The research undertaken on the BioNem Ltd isolates has given Harper Adams the confidence to invest in a 3 year PhD programme which started in October 2004 to take the work forward. However, lack of additional funding is delaying the availability of a commercial product to growers`.
