This project will develop and qualify a system that is capable of treating soybean farming operations where susceptibility to SCN is the primary yield limiting pest. Soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines; SCN) is the major pathogen of soybean causing over $1 billion in crop losses annually. SCN is now considered endemic to North America and is spreading as more acres of land are planted in soybean. Widely prevalent strategies for SCN management include crop rotation and the use of resistant soybean cultivars. These approaches have met with only limited success in reducing the populations of parasitic nematodes in the field. The recent loss of SCN resistance in Ohio-grown soybean highlights the importance of generating new methods for SCN control such as biocontrol. Examples of biocontrol with nematicidal activity are found in the scientific literature including numerous strains of bacteria. However, commercial applications by the large seed companies are limited to spore-forming Bacillus strains. While these spore-formers have some limited ability to survive conventional on-seed application processes and supply chain conditions, they can be limited in their effectiveness against target pests. Environmental stress and abuse associated with manufacturing and distribution typically results in microorganism death and/or dormancy, which decrease viability and physiological activity of the microorganism at the time of application. Thus, current microbial products have decreased effectiveness and reliability.3Bar Biologics is creating a disruptive new system to deliver beneficial microorganisms - a low cost, disposable bioreactor that protects the microorganisms until the farmer is ready to activate the product prior to application. On-site growth of the beneficial microorganisms short-cuts the conventional supply chain, resulting in fresher, more viable microorganisms delivered to the field. This bioreactor opens up the potential for farmers to apply more effective microorganism strains with SCN control capability. The work plan addresses four technical objectives to create a functional prototype for commercialization of strains with demonstrated activity on SCN, to i) confirm yields and stability of the bioreactor system under a range of conditions, ii) optimize and scaleup the production process, iii) develop basis for pamphlet and use instructions, and iv) Demonstrate SCN efficacy and soybean yield improvement in the field. This project is directly aligned with USDA NIFA Challenge Area 1) Global Food Security, and Priority 8.2.4) to research biobased approaches for plant protection against abiotic and biotic stresses.
