Fungal endophyte collection for biocontrol of fusarium crop diseases

Overview

Fusarium species are among the most damaging fungal pathogens in agriculture, causing yield losses across cereals, vegetables, and other crops worldwide. This project leverages a proprietary collection of more than 700 fungal endophytes isolated from wild Arabidopsis plants in Spain to identify novel biocontrol agents against Fusarium pathogens. Fungal endophytes colonize plant tissues internally without causing disease, and many are known to compete with pathogens, produce antimicrobial metabolites, and trigger natural defense responses in their host plants. The initiative aims to translate this biological diversity into active ingredients for next-generation crop protection products that reduce dependence on synthetic fungicides.

Technical specifications

Collection and screening approach:

• Proprietary library of more than 700 fungal endophyte isolates from wild Arabidopsis populations in Spain
• High-throughput in vitro screening pipeline to identify isolates with antagonistic activity against pathogenic Fusarium strains
• In planta co-inoculation experiments to validate disease suppression in a living host
• Characterization of selected leads, including precise species identification, in vitro growth optimization, and extraction of fungal secondary metabolites for further in vitro and in planta testing
• Whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the most promising isolates to support regulatory dossiers and downstream product development

Supporting evidence and intellectual property:

• Prior licensed patent (US10201164B2) covering isolates that promote plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance
• Recently filed patent (OEPM P202230895) on a method to protect plants against fungal pathogens using one of the collection's isolates
• Preliminary data demonstrating nematicidal and insect-deterrent effects from secondary metabolites produced by other isolates in the collection

Technology readiness level

The project is currently at an early-to-mid research stage. The endophyte collection is established and partially characterized, and the research team has demonstrated proof-of-concept results with related isolates against other fungal pathogens and pests. The proposed 24-month work plan moves candidates from high-throughput in vitro screening through in planta validation, metabolite extraction, and genome-level characterization, positioning the most promising isolates for transition toward formulation, field trials, and commercial development as biological crop protection products.