Cold-loving bacterial biopesticide for oomycete plant pathogens
Novel biopesticide using cold-adapted Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains to combat oomycete pathogens like downy mildew and late blight that thrive in cool, wet conditions where existing microbial biocontrol agents fail. Lab results show over 90% suppression of disease sporulation.
Overview
Oomycete pathogens such as downy mildew and late blight cause significant crop losses, particularly in cool and wet growing conditions. Existing microbial biological control agents, many of which are Bacillus-based products optimized for growth around 28°C, perform poorly against these pathogens that thrive between 16–20°C in wet environments. This offering presents a new biopesticide approach built on cold-loving beneficial bacterial strains that remain active under the conditions where oomycete diseases are most damaging. The solution targets a clear gap in the current crop protection market and offers growers an alternative to conventional chemical fungicides.
Technical specifications
- Cold-adapted strains: Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates selected for activity at low temperatures (16–20°C), unlike conventional Bacillus biocontrol strains such as QST 713 and FZB24.
- High efficacy: In-vitro and in-planta bioassays on pea downy mildew demonstrated greater than 90% suppression of sporulation when treated with the bacterial cultures or their cell-free filtrates.
- Synergistic dual application: Combined application of Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains produced stronger disease suppression than either strain used individually, supported by biomass analysis.
- Multiple delivery formats: Potential application as foliar sprays and as seed coatings for pea and faba bean crops to protect against downy mildew and Phytophthora pathogens.
- Mode of action: Disease suppression achieved through both live microbial cells and secreted metabolites present in culture filtrates.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at laboratory validation stage (TRL 3–4). In-vitro and in-planta bioassays have been completed with strong results, and a peer-reviewed manuscript reporting the downy mildew suppression findings is ready for submission. The next phase of work focuses on translational development, including scale-up production of the bacterial strains, glasshouse and polytunnel trials, and field validation against downy mildew and Phytophthora pathogens. Seed coating formulations for pea and faba bean will also be evaluated. Industry partners are sought to support scale-up, formulation, and field testing toward commercial biopesticide development.
About University of Worcester
The University of Worcester is a modern public university with a professional, applied focus and a growing research profile. Industry partners engage through city-center facilities, collaboration spaces, and consultancy pathways that make it easy to scope, prototype, and evaluate. Integration with regional NHS hospital trusts and community providers supports clinical studies, while human performance facilities, environmental monitoring units, and data resources enable real-world testing. Research is supported by competitive funding from UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and charitable foundations. An enterprise and IP team manages contracts, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, licensing, and spinout support.
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