Subventions et des contributions :

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

Agricultural crop plants require a range of intensive agricultural inputs, such as pesticides, growth regulators,x000D
fertilizers and other synthetic and organic products. The organic production of food plants requires a carefulx000D
assessment of all possible avenues for pest and disease control, and efficacy data and modes of action need tox000D
be well studied. Sources of organically-certified products for disease control in Canada are currently limited tox000D
a few well-known and widely used materials that include formulations of bacteria and chelated chemicals.x000D
Plant extracts have attracted wide interest but the consistency and stability of the product has not enabled theirx000D
widespread use. Plants naturally contain a wide range of phenolic compounds, terpenoids, flavonoids,x000D
phytoalexins and other chemicals that have potential antifungal properties. In this research, formulated extractsx000D
derived from the Indian neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and the Karanj tree (Pongamia pinnata) will be testedx000D
for management of two important fungal pathogens affecting greenhouse cucumber plants, and which havex000D
become recent limiting factors to production of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) also grown inx000D
greenhouses. These tree species contain high levels of tetranortriterpenoid (limonoids) in seeds, leaves and barkx000D
(neem) as well as high levels of flavonoids (karanja) in seeds. The invitro toxicity of these formulations will bex000D
tested against mycelial growth and spore germination of the two pathogens. This will be followed byx000D
assessment of temperature and pH effects on product activity. Greenhouse experiments will evaluate whetherx000D
the formulations have activity on plant growth (measured as height and dry weight) as well as disease reductionx000D
on the roots (Fusarium) and leaves (powdery mildew) of the two plant species. The research will investigatex000D
whether induced levels of phenolic compounds, antioxidants and signalling molecules such as jasmonic acidx000D
and salicylic acid, are increased in treated plants. The results will provide additional insights into thex000D
mechanisms of how these plant-derived products can affect plant growth and provide additional opportunitiesx000D
for organic uses of plant extracts for protection of valuable horticultural crops in Canada.