Presentation
CLAMITEC- Myco Solutions emerged as the product of the scientific research carried out in the Laboratory of Applied Mycology (Labmic). This laboratory belongs to the
Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences ), an organization of
University of Évora. These last 10 years have been intensively devoted to the fungus
Pochonia chlamydosporia (P.c.),(PcMR strain),and its potential as a biological control agent on the root-knot nematodes (RKN) (
Meloidogyne sp.). RKN are the most economically important group of plant-parasitic nematodes. They attack more than 2000 plants species worldwide and can lead to complete crop destruction, especially in hot and warm climates. In south Europe, is one of the diseases with larger economic impact on vegetables crops, especially in what concerns to greenhouses.
The research project has started with
Pochonia chlamydosporia prospecting and discovery in Portugal. An isolate collection was drafted and the most promising isolates for the RKN combat selected. The selection work led to the discovery of PcMR strain, that has been studied at Clamitec and which use against RKN is protected by a patent in Portugal and the international patent is in course. This work evolved pot tests and field trials that confirm the importance that this strain may have in the RKN combat.
Simultaneously, it has been started a research project with the aim of obtaining a technology that would allow the industrial production of Pochonia chlamydosporia to use as a biological control agent. This work has led to the development of a new method for Pochonia chlamydosporia mass production in liquid culture. This pioneering technology of microfiltration is also protected by a patent (See Research).
Currently, CLAMITEC- Myco Solutions main activities are:
a) Establishment, development and commercialization of a microfiltration technology
b) Fungi mass production in liquid culture, processing of products using the developed technology and marketing
c) Biotechnological processes applied to the development of fungi products.
History
1998 – 1999: Research and discovery of
Pochonia chlamydosporia in Portugal. An isolate collection was drafted.
1999 - 2001: Selection of PcMR strain as the improved biological control agent on root knot nematodes combat, based on
in vitro and pot tests (EU Project FAIR5-CT97-3444. 2001: Discovery of a new microfiltration process, the Continuous Non Uniform Unclogging Aided Filtration (CNUAF). This technology was applied to the projection and construction of a prototype that allows the filtration and separation of
P. chlamydosporia chlamydospores from the culture medium.
2002 – 2005: Demonstration of the PcMR strain effectiveness to RKN combat in field trials at greenhouses from the Regional Agriculture Directorate of Algarve (DRAALG) and the Regional Agriculture Direction of “Entre Douro e Minho”(DRAEDM).
2004- June-July 2004, Discovery of the first liquid culture medium that allows chlamydospore production by PcMR.
2004- Portuguese patent granting PT102853, “Vácuo filtrador de micosporos”
2004- Portuguese patent granting PT103146, “Fungo para o controlo biológico de nemátodes”
2004- International patent application PCT WO2005115584 in “Method and apparatus for separation of solids in liquid suspensions, by filter unclogging aided filtration”
2005- April 2005, The nutrients required for chlamydospore production were identified and the associated synthetic liquid medium was created.
2005-International patent application PCT in WO2005121314,
Pochonia chlamydosporia strain PCMR and method to use it in biological control of the root-knot-nematodes (
Meloidogyne spp.)”
2006- International patent application PCT in WO2007031949, “Liquid media for chlamydospore production of the fungus
Pochonia chlamydosporia”
2007- Portuguese patent granting PT103346, "Liquid culture medium for the nematophagous fungus cultivation,
Pochonia chlamydosporia, in submerged culture, for chlamydospores mass production (aleurospore conidium type)"
2007- Beginning of the spin-off project, Micotec, supported by Innovation Agency (ADI), an NEOTEC initiative
2008- CLAMITEC Myco Solutions arise from Micotec project.
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