MBI Submits Biofumigant for US EPA Registration

The US biopesticide company Marrone Bio Innovations(MBI)recently announced it has submitted MBI-601 EP, a biofumigant, to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for registration.

The product controls and suppresses plant parasitic nematodes, insect pests and soil-borne plant diseases in agricultural and horticultural soils. The active ingredient, Muscodor albus strain SA 13, produces volatile compounds that inhibit the growth of or kill economically important pests and plant diseases. It targets the most destructive species of nematodes—root knot, sting, ring, spiral, cyst, lance, and lesion and also the highly-damaging plant diseases Fusarium root rot, damping off, southern blight and Verticillium wilt.  With this control, field trials show increased yields in treated strawberries, lettuce and other crops.

“We expect MBI-601 to fill a real need for high value fruit, vegetable, and ornamental growers. Soil fumigants have been valuable tools in protecting these crops worldwide and making their production economically feasible. However, many fumigants have been restricted or removed from the market due to increased regulatory restrictions and concerns about their toxicity to humans and the environment,” explains Jim Lappin, MBI’s VP of Product Management and Business Development.

“MBI-601, a naturally occurring, biologically-based fumigant, will provide an alternative to the traditional synthetic materials. In fact, it is anticipated that workers can return to the treated acres quickly after the product has been applied and planting the crop after application will be shorter than with traditional fumigants. Additional uses in the future, as we further develop the product may include post-harvest, turf, silviculture and seed treatments,” adds Lappin.

MBI-601 is the seventh new active ingredient submitted by MBI to the EPA. “MBI continues to execute on its strategy of rapid development of multiple products across the full range of customer needs. With the losses and restrictions of chemical fumigants, biologicals have the potential to help fill an unmet market need,” said Pam Marrone, the company’s CEO.