Docket Number: 7105
Serial Number: 11074721

Technology Description:    Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers have developed a method for controlling the fungus that causes leaf spot disease in sugar beets.  Leaf spot disease, one of the most important diseases in sugar beets, reduces root yields and sugar content.  It gets its name from the spots on leaves, which are fungi colonies that feed on leaf tissue.  This new development is an improvement on ARS’s initial patented method (USPN 6,872,388), which uses a natural enzyme to control the disease.  This new method uses a composition that could be used as an all-natural solution for preventing leaf spot disease.  The composition can be applied directly to plant foliage or plant roots.  ARS’s method may also prove vital for controlling leaf spot diseases in carrots.    Other natural bacteria have been used to control leaf spot disease, but the fungi have developed resistance to many of these pesticides that once held them in check.  Some effective chemical controls, such as methyl bromide, are being banned due to health and environmental concerns.  An alternate control of leaf spot disease should offer significant economic benefits to growers.   Agrochemical companies could partner with ARS to develop the formula into a viable commercial product, which will benefit growers.    Reference:    Please refer to S.N. 11/074,721 (Docket #0071.05), “Degradation of Cercosporin by Laccasse,” which was filed on March 8, 2005, and is a continuation of USPN 6,872,388 (Docket #0137.02), which issued on March 29, 2005.  Foreign rights are not available.    Inventors:   Robert T. Lartey Agricultural Systems Research Unit Sidney, MT  59270-4202 Phone: (406) 433-9490     Fax: (406) 433-5038 rlartey@sidney.ars.usda.gov   TheCan Caesar-TonThat (Same as first inventor) Phone: (406) 433-9415    Fax:  (406) 433-5038 thecan.caesar@ars.usda.gov