Nematophagous fungi for biological control of phytoparasitic nematodes in crop cultivation

Overview

Phytoparasitic nematodes are a significant threat to crop cultivation, causing substantial yield losses across many agricultural systems. Predatory nematophagous fungi are natural regulators of nematode populations, and their ability to actively capture nematodes, persist in soil environments, and be cultivated in large quantities has attracted global research interest as a basis for biological control products.

This offering leverages over a decade of ecological survey work across diverse soil types in Ukraine, which confirmed the widespread distribution of nematophagous fungi, including the genus Arthrobotrys. From this research, a curated collection of approximately 100 strains has been assembled, evaluated for predatory activity, and screened for suitability under mass cultivation conditions. Promising strains have been identified as candidate producers of biological preparations aimed at protecting crops from phytoparasitic nematodes.

The value proposition for partners is access to a well-characterized strain library with documented nematophage activity, reducing the time and cost typically required to discover and validate new biocontrol agents. Potential applications include development of biological nematicide products for use in integrated pest management programs across a range of crops.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• A collection of approximately 100 predatory nematophagous fungi strains, predominantly from the genus Arthrobotrys
• Strains isolated from diverse soil types across Ukraine, providing broad ecological and genetic diversity
• Evaluated nematophage (predatory) activity for each strain
• Screened for suitability under mass cultivation conditions
• Promising strains pre-selected as candidate producers for biological preparations

Research and development activities underway or planned:

• Selection of highly active strains of predatory nematophagous hyphomycete fungi
• Study of biological features of promising producer strains under deep cultivation in liquid media
• Definition and optimization of basic parameters for deep cultivation of the producer
• Determination of the main performance parameters of the resulting biological product against phytoparasitic nematodes

Technology readiness level

The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. The strain collection has been built and characterized over 10 years of field and laboratory research, and initial screening for predatory activity and cultivation suitability is complete. Promising producer strains have been identified, but optimization of deep cultivation parameters and definitive efficacy testing of the formulated biological product against phytoparasitic nematodes are still in progress. The offering is best suited for partners interested in collaborative development, sponsored research, or pilot-scale validation to advance the selected strains toward a commercially viable biocontrol product.