Feb 9, 2016

Marrone Bio submits novel biofungicide to EPA for review

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. announced that it has submitted MBI-110, a new biological fungicide, to the EPA. A broad spectrum product, MBI-110 is especially notable for its activity on downy mildews and white molds, as shown in two years of field trials in the U.S., Canada and Europe, according to Marrone Bio.

MBI-110 is the result of MBI’s directed screening discovery program to find a solution that addresses fungi that cause downy mildew on grapes, potatoes, leafy greens and other crops, according to the company. This product is also complementary to the diseases covered by Marrone Bio Innovations’ first biofungicide, REGALIA, the company said.

“We knew that new solutions for downy mildew were badly needed, so our team of scientists set out to find one,” Pam Marrone, founder and CEO of Marrone Bio, said. “Our screening platform tested more than 16,000 microbes against important plant pathogens and discovered this novel candidate with a broad spectrum of performance and stand-out activity against downy mildews.”

The active ingredient in MBI-110 is a new strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a bacterium isolated by Marrone Bio Innovation scientists from a soil sample in the United States, the company said. While this type of Bacillus is common in soil and other products contain the same species, MBI’s discovery is unique in its performance on downy mildews, white molds and Botrytis gray mold, Marrone Bio said. The company has an issued patent on the novel strain in MBI-110.

Tests conducted at Marrone Bio Innovations’ research and development lab show that MBI-110 works by colonizing plant root hairs, leaves and other plant surfaces thereby preventing establishment of fungal and bacterial pathogens, including Sclerotinia, Macrophomina, Eutypa, Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, and Sclerotium, Marrone Bio said. Additional laboratory tests indicate that the bacterium also produces natural compounds, some of which inhibit bacterial and fungal mycelial growth, as well as spore germination, the company said. Subsequent field studies validated good results against downy mildew and black rot on grapes and cucurbits, pink rot and late blight on potatoes, Cercospora leaf spot on sugar beets, and white mold on soybean, sunflower, beans, lettuce and canola, according to Marrone Bio.