What is Pasteuria?
Pasteuria is a group of naturally-occurring soil bacteria that specifically attack plant-parasitic nematodes.
What are plant-parasitic nematodes?
Plant-parasitic nematodes are microscopic roundworms that cause a variety of plant diseases, usually by invading the plant roots. Their effects include: increased heat and drougt stress, reduced crop yields, and even plant death. Crop damage due to plant-parasitic nematodes is estimated to be $100 billion worldwide. Nematodes are difficult to control with common pesticides and most products currently marketed for nematode control have significant safety and effectiveness problems.
What crops are damaged by nematodes?
Most agricultural crops are attacked by one or more types of nematodes, although the levels of damage vary. Pasteuria Bioscience is developing products to control nematodes on many crops, including turfgrass, strawberry, vegetables, cotton, soybean, and others.
How big is the market for control of plant-parasitic nematodes?
The current global market is about $3 billion; however, much nematode damage goes untreated due to a lack of safe and effective products. It is estimated to grow to over $5 billion when such products are available.
How can Pasteuria address the problem of nematode control?
Pasteuria are specific, naturally-occurring pathogens of nematodes. They have been recognized for many years by the scientific community as potential nematode control agents. They have been shown to control nematodes in a large variety of crops in many locations worldwide. Since they have no other hosts, they are safe to use. Pasteuria forms endospores, the most robust life-form known. They can therefore be applied, packaged and stored in almost any formulation.
Is Pasteuria commercially viable?
Yes. Pasteuria Bioscience has made a technological breakthrough that allows growth of Pasteuria in liquid culture, suitable for scale-up to commercial production levels. Until recently, production of Pasteuria was prohibitively expensive for most applications. It had never been grown in laboratory culture and was believed to be incapable of growth outside its nematode host. Pasteuria grown in nematode hosts is currently being used at Disney World Epcot Center, and has been sold in Japan, but the cost is far too high for most agricultural applications.
Are products based on Pasteuria available for sale now?
Yes. Pasteuria Bioscience has received US EPA and state approval (or clearance) for its first products, for control of sting nematodes on turfgrass and has a registration application pending for strawberries. These products will be launched in 2010 and 2011, with others to follow.
