While bacteria cause fewer plant diseases than fungi and viruses, they do cause serious economic damages to both US and worldwide agriculture. Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis has resulted in the destruction of over 20 million trees in Florida, while fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora costs exceed $100 million per year in the United States alone, and recent epidemics have cost over $42 million in Michigan in 2000 and over $68 million in the Pacific Northwest in 1999. Bacterial plant pathogens are difficult to control due to shortage of chemical control agents beyond antibiotics. Traditional methods of disease control has limited effectiveness. Unfortunately, these strategies can be labor-intensive, have undesirable environmental impacts, and cost significant amounts. Perhaps because of it, apple and pear growers use antibiotics intermittently at best; studies show that growers use less than 5% of the amount of antibiotics permitted by the EPA, a mere 30,800 pounds out of an allowable potential of over 1,000,000 pounds of streptomycin. Sciessent LLC has developed bioactive systems with low levels of mixed metals that can act as very effective biocides. Sciessent believe that use of this technology in plant protection against Erwinia amylovora, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, etc. can significantly reduce the volume of antibiotics and copper in commercial disease control while also providing a valuable tool for managing the development of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Sciessent antibacterial formulations will be tested against plant pathogenic bacteria in laboratory assays, and formulations that performed well in laboratory screening, will be tested in the field. Upon completion of these goals, Sciessent will have several antimicrobial formulations that are sufficiently developed for Phase II testing, that include waterfastness, effectiveness against bacterial pathogens outside the scope of Phase I testing, stability, and lowest feasible application rates.
