Location: Pest Management and Biocontrol Research
Project Number: 2020-42000-022-014-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2016
End Date: Dec 31, 2020
Objective:
1. The experimental course initiated in 2006 will continue and product development resulting during this course will be expanded.
2. Develop, seek approval for, and follow an Experimental Use Program for a multi-strain biocontrol product according to agreements with and permissions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
3. Activities necessary to develop a multi-strain biocontrol product composed with active ingredients well adapted to Texas corn production to the point of commercial use will be undertaken and carried out to the extent that funding, resources, and time permit.
4. Improved formulations, manufacture of formulations, and end-use atoxigenic biocontrol products will be pursued.
5. Determine methods for improving the behavior of atoxigenic Aspergillus (A.) flavus in order to produce active ingredients with optimal efficacy as active ingredients of biocontrol products and to improve practical utilization of atoxigenic strain technology.
Approach:
1. Fungal population samples that resulted from prior collaborations between the cooperator and USDA/ARS will be examined in order to determine atoxigenic strains of particular value as active ingredients in biological control products.
2. In collaboration with IR-4, file with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval for an Experimental Use Program to develop for commercial use a multi-strain biocontrol product in Texas.
3. Influences of timing application and method of application on efficacy of treatments will be sought in order to provide for utilization of the atoxigenic strain product with optimal benefits per unit cost.
4. Producers will be asked about preferred application methods, preferred timing, and preferred biocontrol product characteristics and both the product and atoxigenic strain use in Texas will be optimized based on their suggestions.
