Research

Pathogen Control Research Unit (PC RU)

The long-term objective of the activities of this unit is to reduce chemical fungicide input on crops. It intends to implement pathogen control methods based on the use of micro-organisms, their metabolites or analogous and/or their integration with other non chemical methods such as cultural ones.

PC RU priorities include:

• selection and identification of field-conditions-effective BCAs by means of high throughput screening methods based on pathogen-plant-BCA system and molecular analyses;
  
  
• characterizing the spectrum of activity of BCAs and modes of action;
  
  
• isolation of bioactive compounds from culture of micro organisms known to be active against pathogens;
  
  
• study the methods for massive production of potential BCAs and bioactive compounds;
  
  
• preliminary formulation of BCAs and bioactive compounds for use in field trials and evaluation of selected formulations under commercial conditions;
  
  
• evaluation of activity, consistency, survival and diffusion of agents applied in the field under different environmental conditions;
  
  
• integration of agents with different modes of action and ecological requirements and with other environment friendly methods;
  
  
• evaluation of effect of agents on insect behaviour and on plant physiology;
  
  
• compose guidelines for BCAs trials for registration and registration processes.