Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd. and Yissum Technology Transfer Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will jointly develop and commercialize a novel, non-toxic, and environmentally-friendly bio-control method for protecting a variety of plants, based on a naturally-occurring yeast, Pseudozyma that was isolated from strawberry leaves.
Dr. Maggie Levy of the Hebrew University’s Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology developed the bio-control agent, after discovering that the yeast secretes substances which inhibit the growth of several fungal and bacterial pathogens, thereby increasing plant resistance to infestations and enhancing growth.
"We are very happy to strengthen our collaborative endeavors with Makhteshim Agan, a long-time partner of Yissum in developing innovative, environmentally friendly crop protection agents and methods," said Yissum CEO Yaacov Michlin. "The novel bio-control agent developed in the lab of Dr. Levy has proven to be non-toxic and highly effective against an impressively wide variety of plant pathogens. Its development and commercialization will therefore serve to reduce the amount of pesticides used in agriculture, for the benefit of farmers, consumers and the environment."
Makhteshim head of innovative development Sami Shabtai said, “In a world challenged by the double-edged sword of rapid population growth and shrinking agricultural resources, the need for sustainable solutions is clearer than ever.
Pseudozyma inhibits a broad variety of fungal and bacterial pathogens, and application of the yeast spores significantly inhibited the growth of different fungal causal agents of plant diseases such as powdery mildews (a gray mold that has more than 400 different hosts), crown rust (the black spot disease of cultivated Brassicas), and late wilt disease in corn. Pathogenic bacteria such as Clavibacter michiganensis, the causative agent of bacterial canker of tomato, were also controlled by the yeast.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 16, 2013
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