CXC-AG granted US patent for a novel biocontrol against potato scab

CXC-AG, which specializes in the commercialization of university-developed technologies for agriculture, has been granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office pertaining to unique Bacillus strains for the bioprotection of potatoes against infection by Streptomyces scabies, a bacterium responsible for common scab disease in potatoes.

Potato scab is considered one of the most significant plant pathogens affecting potato crops worldwide, causing unsightly lesions on the surface of the tubers that make fresh market potatoes unmarketable, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers. Potato is the world's third-most important food crop in terms of human consumption behind wheat and rice, with about 18 million hectares under production.

"This patent represents another key step in our persistent march toward more sustainable crop production systems leveraging the power of biocontrol," said François Lamoureux, CEO of CXC. "While a number of important biofungicides emerged over the past 15 years, effective biocontrols targeting bacterial plant pathogens have remained elusive. This patent is the result of more than 20 years of promising research with McGill University in our quest for innovative and effective anti-bacterial solutions to address that unmet need."

The patent revolves around use of unique strains of the beneficial microorganisms Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis during fermentation. These strains produce desirable properties that inhibit or suppress the growth of Streptomyces scabies. The patent emphasizes that these strains act synergistically, meaning they work together to enhance the bioprotective effects against the pathogen.

"The success of these strains involve the interaction of microbial cultures in a cooperative manner, where one microorganism can influence the metabolic activities of another to ensure their effectiveness in protecting one of the world's most important food crops," said CXC Chief Scientist Dr. Fazli Mabood.

Potato scab is particularly problematic for farmers because once Streptomyces scabies is established in a field, it can persist in the soil for many years as a saprophyte on plant debris and organic matter. This long-term survival makes the disease difficult to control through conventional methods such as crop rotation and chemical fumigation. The inconsistent results and environmental challenges associated with these traditional control methods further underlines the importance of developing more effective and sustainable solutions.

About CXC-AG. CXC-AG is a division of CXC, solely focused on developing and commercializing research from top university laboratories. CXC-AG has strong links to McGill University, especially the Smith Lab which is renowned for developing lipochito-oligosaccharides (LCOs), which are arguably the biggest hit in microbial-derived biologicals, in use on hundreds of millions of acres worldwide.