Taiwan researchers develop new biopesticide from bacteria

 2012/12/11 20:40:22 Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) said Tuesday it has successfully developed a new strain of bacteria that can be used to produce a biopesticide, fertilizer and animal feed.Hsieh Feng-chia, head of the project at the COA's Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute, said researchers spent five years collecting thousands of bacterial strains from deep mountain soil in Taiwan.They then spent another three years working with the National Science Council to isolate the bacteria and create a novel strain called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, coded "Ba-BPD1," he said.Director of the research institute Fei Wen-chi said the new strain of bacteria can produce antibiotic substances such as iturin and surfactin that inhibit the growth of fungus and harmful bacteria.It also helps plants absorb higher amounts of phosphorus, which is vital to their growth and health, Fei said.Trials of the biopesticide on strawberries and Chinese cabbage showed that it helps double the crop yield, she said.The biopesticide also protect animals against harmful bacteria, making it a desirable feed additive, the institute said.The new bacterial strain was patented in Taiwan in October and is awaiting patent approval in China and the United States, Fei said.Taiwan Fertilizer Co. has paid NT$1.7 million (US$58,454) for non-exclusive rights to mass produce the natural pesticide, according to the institute.The biopesticide has also attracted the interest of the German chemical and drug group Bayer HealthCare and Japanese pharmaceutical company Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., the institute said.