Member Countries:
Armenia
Belarus
Canada
EU
Georgia
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Norway
Republic of Korea
Russian Federation
Tajikistan
United StatesDiscovering New Generation of Biopesticides
After over 6 years of research, project # 2338, Studies and Evaluation of Entomopathogenic Fungi as new Biopesticides Producers, came to completion. The project funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) was successful as it gathered the biggest collection in Russia and the CIS of entomopathogenic fungi, with over 1200 different strains, opening up possibilities of creating novel drugs and biopesticides.
These fungi usually attach to the external body surface of insects in the form of microscopic spores. Under permissive conditions of temperature and moisture, these spores germinate, grow and colonize the insect. Then, the fungal cells proliferate in the host body cavity. After some time the insect usually dies.
Since they are considered natural mortality agents and environmentally safe, there is worldwide interest in the utilization and manipulation of entomopathogenic fungi for biological control of insects and other arthropod pests.
Through the project, 205 strains from 83 species of micromycets were tested for their pesticide and pharmacological properties. Strains with mosquitocidal activity, strains active against phytopathogenic and microorganisms inducing hospital infections were found.
Between 2002 and 2009 twelve scientific expeditions were organized to isolate entomopathogenic fungi. Mycological investigations were performed in different native-climatic zones of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Two Russian Federation patent applications have been prepared on the mosquitocidalactivity of two fungal strains. In addition 12 papers were published in scientific journals and Conference proceedings and 4 presentations were made at 5 international conferences or workshops during the course of the project.
Leading Institute: Research Center of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Moscow region.
Partner: US Department of Agriculture under a program managed by the Agricultural Research Service Office of International Research Programs
Collaborator: United State Department of Agriculture (USDA)/ Agricultural Research Service – (ARS), US Plant, Soil & Nutrition Laboratory, Ithaca, USA
For more information, please contact the Senior Project Manager:
Elena Drozdova
drozdova@istc.ru
Fungus Hirsutella gigantea on a caterpillar of Lepidoptera