b"including potato services, farm businessand plant pathologist Louise-MarieBy first using genetic engineering to management, and in the internationalDandurand have been working for severalfind the pathway through which litchi programs division. Kouwenberg alsoyears studying a range of possibilitiestomato protects itself, Caplan believes worked in the private sector where shefor using litchi tomato as a tool to avertresearchers may later be able to change completed a feasibility study into and thenematode-related yield losses in potatoes.gene expression to protect potatoes from establishment of the P.E.I. Potato QualityThe release said litchi tomato has beennematodes through laboratory methods Institute (PQI), a nationally accreditedplanted as a trap crop in the programthat arent considered to be genetic testing laboratory which she thento eradicate pale cyst nematode (PCN).modifications.managed and expanded. When planted in fields infested with PCN, Following her time at PQI, Kouwenberglitchi tomato stimulates cysts to hatch in has continued to work in the globalthe absence of a viable host, causing them potato network, collaborating onto starve. Blackleg Bacteria May Help Fight projects with American university potatoThe release noted Dandurand also hasAgainst Antimicrobial Resistancevariety research programs, expandinga post-doctoral researcher seeking toResearchers have discovered that the international technical and regulatoryidentify chemicals in litchi tomato thatpotato bacteria Dickeya solani, which trade, and farm biosecurity. The releaseharm or kill nematodes. The chemicalscauses blackleg and top wilt, may help noted Kouwenberg brings experience tothat prove effective could be refined andfight against antimicrobial resistance, a the WPC through her global connections,applied directly to fields as a pesticide.new study said.facilitating incoming and outgoingAllan Caplan, associate professor inA multinational team of researchers in agricultural missions and trade showsU of Is Department of Plant Sciences,Europe found new antifungal antibiotic involving countries in North Africa, Centraland Fangming Xiao, a professor in thenamed solanimycin. Solanimycin was and South America, the Philippines, Uniteddepartment, are working to identify theinitially isolated from Dickeya solani but States, and the Middle East.genes in litchi tomato that are specificallyit is also produced by a broad spectrum of Kouwenberg lives with her husbandexpressed when nematodes attack therelated plant pathogenic bacteria.and three children on a 285-cow milkingplant The researchers found solanimycin acts herd dairy farm. She has served as aWe found at least 277 genes that gotagainst a wide range of fungi known to 4-H youth leader, sat on various boardsturned on, Caplan said in the release.infect and wreak havoc on agricultural and committees in this and otherWe think not all of them are necessary.crops. In lab studies, the compound also organizations within her community,We have to make educated guesses ofacted against Candida albicans, a fungus and has been recognized with a Womenwhich to try first, and its really a matter ofthat occurs naturally in the body but can in Agriculture award for her ongoingtrial and error. Were pretty certain somecause dangerous infections. The results contributions. of these are going to have a big effect butsuggest that solanimycin, and related we cant say with certainty which onescompounds, could be useful in both theyre going to be. agricultural and clinical settings.The two have turned over some ofWe have to look more expansively RESEARCH NEWS the genes they suspect may be directlyacross much more of the microbial University of Idaho Breedinginvolved in killing nematodes topopulations available to us, Rita Monson, Nematode-Resistant Spuds Joseph Kuhl, associate professor in themicrobiologist at the University of Researchers at the University of Idaho areDepartment of Plant Sciences, who usedCambridge and study co-lead, said in a working to introduce genes from a plantbiotechnology to introduce them into anews release about the study.in the nightshade family into potatoesred-skinned potato variety, Desiree, lastSolanimycin isnt the first antibiotic to develop spuds that are resistance tosummer. Desiree was chosen becausediscovered from the microbe. In previous harmful nematodes, a news release said. it's relatively easy to transform throughwork, researchers found that D. solani The genes are from the plant, calledgenetic modification, the release said. produces an antibiotic called oocydin A, litchi tomato, which has a naturalXiao created some biotech potatoeswhich is highly active against multiple resistance to several species of cyst andusing litchi tomato genes last fall, andfungal plant pathogens.root-knot nematodes. The release notedCaplan is set to introduce additional litchiMonson said the researchers have nematode cysts remain viable in fieldstomato genes into potatoes this summer.begun collaborating with chemists to for more than a decade and can be foundThe release noted all their growing,learn more about the molecular structure down to three feet deep in soil. infecting and analysis is taking place inof solanimycin and better understand how The team at U of I lead by nematologistclosed growth chambers. it works. They then hope to continue to MULTIPLE MODES OF ACTION - Fungicide & BactericideDouble Nickel is the trusted pioneer in biofungicides that is safe on beneficialsand has no residues.SPUDSMART.COM Winter 202361WWW.UAP.CA"