Certis USA in plant disease control technologies licensing agreement

Certis USA has entered into a global license agreement with Montana State University-Bozeman and Montana BioAgriculture Inc. of Missoula, MT to develop and commercialize new plant disease control technologies based on Bacillus mycoides isolate BmJ.

BmJ is a naturally occurring, nonpathogenic bacterium that triggers a plant’s immune response to pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses resulting in systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to diseases. BmJ does this by a mechanism very similar to that of chemical SAR activators, but with equal or better disease control for longer periods and with lower risk of phytotoxicity. While some microbial biofungicides have been reported to also have moderate activity as SAR activators, BmJ is unique in that it works entirely as a microbial SAR activator with no direct effect on the plant pathogen itself. These characteristics make BmJ a valuable tool for use in fungicide resistance management programs.

Montana State University (MSU) has patented methods for inducing SAR in plants by applying BmJ-based control agents, and related patents are pending. The technology has been under development by MSU and Montana BioAgriculture, and the collaboration has proven the efficacy of BmJ against Cercospora leaf spot in sugar beets, white mold and early blight in potatoes, and several other crop diseases. Certis USA plans to commercialize this technology worldwide in an expanded range of crops and diseases.