Project Number: 3620-22410-011-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 22, 2006
End Date: Dec 31, 2008

Objective:
Optimize multiple treatment factors to enhance biocontrol of Fusarium Head Blight.

Approach:
Optimize biocontrol of wheat scab incited by Gibberella zea (anamorph, Fusarium graminearum) as follows. Using greenhouse and field plant bioassays, evaluate the effects on biocontrol efficacy of multiplexing applications of superior biocontrol agents of scab of wheat that were discovered in previous cooperative research between ARS and The Ohio State University. Determine the feasibility of combining biocontrol agents with top fungicides, UV protectants, and resistant cultivars to acquire additive or synergistic levels of scab disease control. Improve bioreactor liquid culture media and incubation conditions to increase the quantity, efficacy, and amenability to formulation and shelf-life of biocontrol agent biomass produced. Through the use of molecular and bioassay techniques, determine the molecular basis of enhanced stress tolerance of biocontrol strains improved through production and selection techniques.