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JULIO P. YAP JR.
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THERE is now an innovative project which will explore the potential of bacteriophages as biopesticides for soft rot – a major disease of vegetables in the Philippines.
This was launched in a recent inception meeting at the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Funded and monitored by DOST-PCAARRD, the project is led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Regional Crop Protection Clusters, Benguet State University, and local government units.
The project leader sees the potential of bacteriophages in controlling soft rot caused by various enterobacteria in high value vegetables.
It was learned that a bacteriophage or phage is a virus that infects bacteria.
It injects its genetic material past the bacterial cell wall and produces multiple progenies inside the cell.
As a result, the bacterium ruptures and dies, while the phage progenies spread and invade other bacteria.
Phages have highly specific target hosts and are effective against antibiotic- and heavy metal-resistant bacteria.
They are cheap and easy to prepare.
As biocontrol agents, phages are expected to lower the cost of crop protection, which will eventually benefit the vegetable farmers in the country.
Application of bacteriophages to vegetables may cut the use of chemical pesticides, and thus, lessen the chemical residues on vegetables.
Controlling soft rot through the use of phages may also extend the shelf life of vegetables.
However, the two-year project will cover basic studies only.
Projects dealing with the application of bacteriophages will be pursued if the findings from the current project are favorable.
In a related development, the DOST-PCAARRD has also recently approved a project titled, “Field Verification of Natural Fungicide from Tasmannia piperita (Hook. F.) Miers against Alternaria brassicae of Lettuce and Phytophtora infestans of Tomato.”
In connection with the project, DOST-PCAARRD also recently conducted an inception meeting and field monitoring visit for the newly approved project.
The project aims to conduct field verification of natural fungicide from Tasmannia piperita (Hook.f.) Miers, a primitive dicot plant which grows in exposed ridges and peaks of high altitude mossy forests.
The project also aims to establish nurseries for the mass propagation of T. piperita through seeds, wildlings, and in vitro culture.
Natural fungicide from T. piperita is environment-friendly, cheap and locally available.
This claim is based on the results of various studies on T. piperita which was screened using aqueous extracts from its leaves.
Plants of T. piperita are found in high mountain ecosystem like Mount Apo and Mount Kitanglad.
Over-collection of this plant might deplete the population if the fungicide will be produced in large scale from T. piperita.
Thus, there is a need to mass propagate the plant through seedlings in the nursery or by tissue culture as source of the fungicide.
As part of the dissemination, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in Kidapawan City will provide the seedlings to farmer-cooperators for their plantation and to be sold as source of plants for fungicide production. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com)/PN
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