The management of bacterial canker of tomato is one of the main challenges experienced by the greenhouse industry nowadays in Québec and Canada. Unfortunately, to this day, there are no resistant varieties or effective chemical or biological control available to the growers. That is why Ulysse Biotech embarked few years ago on the challenging task to try to find a biocontrol method that could contribute to reduce Clavibacter michiganensis (Cm), the causal agent of the disease, and benefit the greenhouse tomato production. Through Cm genomes diversity analysis, we will be able to know how Cm had spread in industry and its origins through comparison with other international strains. Another goal of this project is the full characterization of a new biocontrol agent that have shown high potentialities to control Cm. Here we will identify how this Bacillus spp.-based biocontrol helps plant against Cm strain from Québec and unveil its mechanism through transcriptomics. With precise knowledge of Cm diversity in Québec, and the mechanisms used by the biocontrol agent developed by Ulysse Biotech, it would be possible to control Cm spread, avoid the economic loses linked to bacterial canker of tomato, and to achieve a more sustainable agriculture, economic stability, and a healthy environment.
Genome Centre: Génome Québec
Users:
Nancy Clermont – Les Serres Sagami
Claire Letanneur – Ulysse Biotech