Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596140
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Development of a botanical plant protection product from Larix by-products

EE James
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey, UK-GU2 7XH, Guildford, UK
,
DA Mulholland
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey, UK-GU2 7XH, Guildford, UK
,
MK Langat
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey, UK-GU2 7XH, Guildford, UK
,
I Kleeberg
2   Trifolio-M, DE-35633, Lahnau, Germany
,
J Treutwein
2   Trifolio-M, DE-35633, Lahnau, Germany
,
HMT Hokkanen
3   Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
,
B Thürig
4   Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, CH-5070, Frick, Switzerland
,
HJ Schärer
4   Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, CH-5070, Frick, Switzerland
,
L Tamm
4   Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, CH-5070, Frick, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

 

There is significant need for the discovery and development of environmentally favourable alternatives to replace copper-based fungicides. Grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) is an oomycete that has caused widespread problems in European vineyards since the early 20th century [1]. Copper is widely used to control P. viticola as it is often the only available control measure [2], however it needs to be replaced urgently due to its unfavourable ecotoxicological profile [3,4].

Control of pathogens by means of plant-derived plant protection products (PPPs) can be an effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly method for crop protection. Larix decidua (European larch) bark is a by-product of the wood processing industry and provides a readily available, low cost and sustainable raw material. The EU FP7 'ForestSpecs' project identified two highly active diterpenoids (larixyl acetate and larixol) from L. decidua, with potential uses in agricultural production systems to combat oomycete plant diseases.

To facilitate the commercialisation of these compounds into a marketable PPP (Larixyne®, patent filed), the 'ProLarix' project has (i) optimised methods for large scale extraction and purification of active compounds from L. decidua; (ii) developed analytical protocols to quantify larixyl acetate, larixol and epimanool (the primary impurity) in L. decidua extracts; (iii) evaluated and identified high-yield sources of larixyl acetate and larixol through screening a range of plant samples from Central and Northern Europe and (iv) demonstrated the efficacy of Larixyne® against P. viticola under field conditions.

Acknowledgements: EC Grants, Grant numbers 227239 (ForestSpecs) and 613600 (ProLarix), are acknowledged for financial assistance.

Keywords: Larix decidua, Larixyl acetate, Plasmopara viticola, oomycete.

References:

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