Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)

We have known that some microbes associate with plant roots and improve plant growth for over a century.x000D
Over the last decade we have come to appreciate that there is a regulated population of microbes associatedx000D
with the roots of all crop plants - the phytomicrobiome. The phytomicrobiome is now being sampled as cropx000D
management input. The century-old soybean inoculant industry is the paradigm for this: a very inexpensivex000D
product is applied on large land areas and reduces the application of nitrogen fertilizer, reducing greenhousex000D
gas emissions, waterway eutrophication and groundwater contamination. There is a growing interest in the usex000D
of "biologicals" as a way to reduce agriculture's environmental footprint. EVL has developed a set ofx000D
plant-associated bacteria that improves the growth of crop plants and can be applied with fertilizers. Wex000D
propose to improve understanding of the mode of action for these strains. This will consist of determiningx000D
production, by these microbes, of plant hormones or plant hormone analogues, proteins able to stimulate plantx000D
growth and the ability of these materials in the broth in which the microbes were produced (after the cells werex000D
removed) to enhance plant growth. The latter could lead to an eventual cell free product EVL has made somex000D
effort and understanding the mechanism of action of these microbes consortium however it does not have thex000D
research expertise or facilities to allow the research proposed; a relationship with the Smith lab at McGill willx000D
overcome this. This work will improve the sustainability and economics of Canadian agricultural and givex000D
Canada further leadership in the agricultural application of biologicals. The work will provide a deeperx000D
understanding of mechanisms by which the microbe strains increase plant growth, leading to a broaderx000D
collaboration between EVL Inc and McGill University; one that will allow further utilization of biologicals andx000D
the development of new products in this area.