Development of 3-Deoxyflavonoid-based Erwinia Bactericids and a System for Bee-Erwinia-Monitoring

15.12.2008 - 15.12.2011
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
Fireblight is a severe and actual threat to Austrian fruit cultivation, especially to pome fruit orchards (apple, pear, quince). Increased efforts are needed for its restriction, for development of new and safe bactericides as well as for monitoring the infection status. The goals of the two subprojects are: 1. Development of 3-Deoxyflavonoid-based Erwinia bactericides In contrast to existing agents high efficacy should be combined with low environmental and human toxicity (¿soft chemicals¿). Efficacy of 3-deoxyflavonoids induced by Regalis® application against fireblight as well as the underlying molecular mechanism could be demonstrated within the project ERWINIA. In this project, direct applicability of derivatives of 3-deoxyflavonoids against fireblight will be tested. The active 3-deoxyflavonoid luteoforol (or apiforol) is chemically unstable and has to be stabilized by glycosylation. Such a glycoside will be cleaved by added lycosidases on the plant surface to set free the active 3-deoxyflavonoid. The newly developed substances will be tested for antimicrobial activity but also for plant tolerance. In case both is positive, the "Außeninstitut TU Wien" will check chances for legal protection and the substance will be developed to a marketable product not within this project. 2. Bee-Erwinia-Monitoring The goal is a practicable system which enables analysis for Erwinia from beehives, especially during bloom, allowing an actual and regional fireblight forecast and carefully directed, cost-saving counteractions. In the project, test stripes will be developed to be exposed at the opening of the beehive. Furthermore, an isothermal DNA analytical method will be developed and optimised. This methods has the advantage not to be dependent on expensive thermocycler devices, to be sensitive and to be suitable for less well equipped labs. The analysis for Erwinia will be performed by this new method, but also in parallel by conventional methods (ELISA, PCR; EPPO standard) and by quantitative PCR. Especially quantitative PCR not only allows analysis for presence of the pathogen, but also gives a quantification. This is important for the optimization and evaluation of the isothermal method with respect to its sensitivity. It is intended to develop a suitable method which enables to known the regional status of infection within hours of time, leading back this information to the grower. Together with the climatic prognosis (MARYBLYT) it can then be localy decided on ways of fireblight restriction. In case of low infection status it could be decided to avoid streptmycin, which is of low public acceptance, but to apply agents of lower efficacy but with better acceptance (e.g. antagonists).

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Grant funds

  • BM für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, U und Wasserwirtschaft (National) Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (bm:lfuw)

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Biological and Bioactive Materials: 100%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
ApfelApple
Feuerbrandfire blight
BienenBee
Erwinia amylovoraErwinia amylovora

Externe Partner_innen

  • AGES - Österr. Agentur für Gesundhe und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH

Publikationen