This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (CFDA 10.212 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program) provides $174,929 to Poplar Innovations Inc., a small disadvantaged business, to develop endophyte-mediated disease resistance technology to combat pathogens affecting hybrid poplar, a key cellulosic feedstock for the bioeconomy.
The objectives are to: 1) identify bacterial endophytes antagonistic to the key poplar diseases of Melampsora leaf rust and Septoria stem canker in lab and greenhouse tests, and 2) evaluate this endophyte technology in field trials of hybrid poplar in the Northwest and Southeast regions. Phase I will focus on endophyte discovery and establishing the field trials, while Phase II will complete the field evaluations. The ultimate goal is the joint commercialization of the disease-resistant hybrid poplar cultivars and endophyte technologies across these two key production regions. This project aims to develop improved methods and control strategies for pathogens affecting important woody species like hybrid poplar.
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