Main areas of research and development
Microbiological research
Novel microbial soil inoculant preparations are developed to be used on lands severely exposed to abiotic stress. Soil-living microorganisms are isolated, selected and characterised for properties potentially favourable in such stressed soils (Figure 1.). Primer targets for amelioration are low fertility lands unfit for agricultural activity due to deterioration (secondary salinized, alkaline-saline, acidic and drought-stricken sandy soils). Research is supported by grants form the Kozma programme (TUDAS_06-SANI0609).
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Figure 1. Changes in the indole-acetic acid production capacity of soil bacterial strains following 6 weeks and 8 weeks exposure to low temperature (+6 C) |
The soil microbial strain collection in the property of the enterprise is continuously under market-oriented development. Isolation of highly effective species and strains of soil-living microorganisms hitherto not used in commercially available soil inoculant preparations and research on specific microbial mechanisms, metabolic activities and tolerance against abiotic stress factors in soil bacteria are finanicaly supported by grants from the Kozma programme (TUDAS_06-SANI0609).
New and innovative solutions include the development of a complex product containing the combination of soil bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi to be used in field cultivation and forestry. The mycorrhiza – a symbiotic association between the plant root and fungal hyphae – improves the host plant's nutrient uptake (P, N, Zn, Cu, etc.) and tolerance against drought, potential heavy-metal contamination of the soil and stress factors affecting engrafted plants. Research is financially supported by grants from the Jedlik Programme (SANI2007).
R&D activity involves the research and production of soil microbial preparations having a biocontrolling effect by inhibiting the growth of soil-living plant pathogen fungi (Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium, Verticillium) (Figure 2.). Such innovative and environmentally friendly plant protection solution is highly sought for in both field cultivation of plants and forestry (seed grain production, forest nurseries, nursery gardens).
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Figure 2. The inhibitory effect of a soil bacterial culture on the growth of a plant pathogen fungus |
We are developing a micro- and molecular biology based soil diagnostic system for the field efficiency testing and trademark protection of our commercially available and yet to be developed soil inoculant preparations. With the use of maps and fingerprints of specific polymorph regions of the DNA of selected strains it is possible to identifiy own-developed strains (Figure 3.) and to evaluate colonization dynamics in inoculated soil and the rooting zone. The project is financially supported by grants from the Kozma programme (TUDAS-06-SANI0609).
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Figure 3. RFLP pattern of ITS-DNA fragments of soil bacterial strains (C1-S11) cleaved by Taq1 restriction endonucelase |
Technological development
Our aim is to introduce a new technological method in the production of soil bacterial preparations (Figure 4.). With the adjustments of SSF (solid state fermentation), culturing conditions and equipment, the process (applied for a patent in dec 2007 under the No. P 0700816) is suitable for the culturing and maintenance of microaerophile (requiring oxygen in a low concentration) bacteria. The obtained cultures are favorably applicable for agricultural purposes, as – in oppose to liquid state preparations – solid state preparations have a longer shelf-life, a much higher cell count meaning a considerably lower amount to be inoculated thus minimising the costs of transport and dispersion. The project is financially supported by GVOP – 3.3.3 – 05/1.-2005-05-0034/3.0 grants.
Granulation and pelleting aims at the development of the powder-form soil inoculant (Figure 5.) to expand the areas of applicability (dispersing granulate on arable land) and elongate shelf-life of bacterial strains. Stability of cells are most simply achieved by means of bonding to a carrier. Adsorption on a solid carrier or mixing with solid components facilitates transport and loading of the product yet implies a stress factor for bacteria. Hence, it is of great importance to work out the optimal composition of formulation in which the inoculant microorganisms preserve their proliferation capacity. The project is financially supported by grants from the Jedlik Programme (SANI2007).
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Figure 5. Spheroniser/extruder and a fluid bed dryer (from left to right) |
We are also working on the elaboration of a concentration technology and the industrial scale production and utilization of high-efficiency Azospirillum soil inoculant strains (Figure. 6.) (MBK-SZBK Patent application P 0900248).
We are also dealing with the screening and development of microbes capable of the decomposition of policyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in order to enhance microbiological and soil enzyme activity of oil ooze and promote recultivation.
The infrastructure of the enterprise provides appropriate technical background to R&D activities, including microbiological, technology-development and DNA laboratory and a semi-industrial fermentation system.
Developed products and strains are not modified genetically, they serve sustinable, environmentally friendly and organic production in both small and large scales. The selected inoculant strains are transferred to patent deposits (NCAIM), strains and technologies are patent protected. R&D results are directly utilized by partner enterprises (BioFil Ltd., Fermentia Ltd., AgroBio Ltd.) in the form of commercially available products.
Professional relations in the field R&D (national and international):
Publications in referred journals and conference proceedings:
J. Kutasi, É. Kárpáti, I. Dusha (2007) Highly effective rhizobacterial soil inoculants: large scale production of cyst form cultures by hollow fibre filters. J. Biotechnol., 131(2) Supplement 1, p. S151
I. Puspán, J. Kutasi, É. Kárpáti (2009) Preliminary molecular study of nitrogen fixing baterial populations in deteriorated soils. Acta Microbiol. Immunol. Hung. 56:83.
K. Takács, É. Kárpáti, I. Puspán, J. Kutasi, B Erdélyi (2009) Isolation of nitrogen fixing bacteria from intensely grass-grown areas. Acta Microbiol. Immunol. Hung. 56:98.
J. Kutasi, I. Puspán, É. Kárpáti (2009) Improvement of cold stress tolerant Azospirillum brasilense strains for effective soil inoculation. Acta Microbiol. Immunol. Hung. 56:61.I. Puspán, R. Kovács, É. Kárpáti, J. Kutasi (2009) New feature of Micrococcus roseus soil inoculant bacterium: highly effective indole-3 acetic acid production. Acta Microbiol. Immunol. Hung. 56:228.
Patents:
Soil Inoculation, Hungarian Patent Specification, P 0900248
Soil Inoculant, Hungarian Patent Specification, P0700816