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IALR Scientists Showcase Biologicals Research at National Congress

IALR Scientists Showcase Biologicals Research at National Congress

Two scientists from the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) presented research at the 11th Plant Genomics & Gene Editing Congress and the 8th Partnerships in Biocontrol, Biostimulants & Microbiome Congress held in Raleigh, N.C. Dr. Chuansheng Mei and Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa showcased posters highlighting the results of their research into the effects of biostimulants and biocontrol agents on hydroponic lettuce and cucumber production, respectively.

Dr. Amaradasa’s poster was selected as a winner in the poster competition, and he was then invited to present it during the congress.

Dr. Amaradasa showcased his work on “Biological Control of Pythium in Cucumber and Hydroponic Lettuce by Endophytic Pseudomonas Strain IALR1619.” Pythium is a persistent pathogen affecting cucumber and lettuce in indoor agriculture. Dr. Amaradasa’s study, published in PLOS ONE, found that treating these crops with a naturally occurring biocontrol agent improved plant survival rates and increased overall yield.

“Biocontrol agents offer a powerful alternative to chemical fungicides,” said Dr. Amaradasa. “Our work demonstrates that we can maintain effective disease control while minimizing ecological impact, which is essential for sustainable agriculture.”

Dr. Mei presented his research titled “Effects of Beneficial Bacterial Endophytes on Growth of Lettuce Plants, Transcriptome and Root Microbiome in Hydroponic Systems.” His findings, developed through a three-year collaboration with Virginia Tech and Appalachian State University, demonstrate how introducing a naturally occurring biostimulant can boost lettuce yield by 15-20% and significantly enhance root development.

“Our research is focused on providing growers with natural, effective tools to boost plant productivity,” said Dr. Mei. “The results show real promise for expanding sustainable food production in hydroponic systems, which is crucial as we look for ways to feed a growing population.”

The Plant Genomics & Gene Editing Congress focused on advancements in plant genomics and gene editing, with case studies on enhancing disease resistance and stress tolerance in critical crops. The congress also covered computational phenotyping, bioinformatics integration and the potential of artificial intelligence in plant research.

The 8th Partnerships in Biocontrol, Biostimulants & Microbiome Congress examined the development of agricultural biopesticides and biostimulants, focusing on plant microbiomes and their role in improving crop yield and stress tolerance. The event featured discussions on symbiotic plant-microbe relationships and regulatory updates for biological products.

The event provided a platform for IALR’s Applied Research team to share their cutting-edge work at the intersection of technology and agriculture, demonstrating how endophytes and other beneficial microorganisms can enhance productivity and sustainability.

“Our mission at IALR is to drive economic transformation, and our research team does that by meeting the needs of industry and producers,” said Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research. “We are committed to providing unique services and sustainable solutions in biotechnology, controlled environment agriculture and analytical chemistry.”

Inside IALR Podcast: Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture

Inside IALR Podcast: Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture

The Plant Endophyte Research Center at IALR is focused on the use of naturally occurring plant bacteria to help with plant growth promotion and stress response. This is biotechnology in action.

This episode features three of the scientists who run the Plant Endophyte Research: Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research; Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist; and Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Senior Scientist.

  • Defining biotechnology (01:16)
  • The research focus of the Plant Endophyte Research Center (03:31)
  • IALR’s role in the biotechnology industry (07:49)
  • Biotechnology collaboration with partners (12:41)
  • Primary industries where biotechnology is used (15:10)
  • The goal of the Plant Endophyte Research Center in the next five years (21:41)

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Harnessing Endophytes for Disease Management in Agriculture

Harnessing Endophytes for Disease Management in Agriculture

Using fungicides in agriculture has long been a double-edged sword, providing effective disease management but also leading to environmental concerns such as resistance development, pollution and unintended harm to non-target organisms. As growers face limited options with the withdrawal of legacy chemistry from the market, there is a pressing need for sustainable alternatives to conventional agroprotectants.

One promising solution: biocontrol agents.

Biocontrol agents, which are naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, offer environmentally friendly alternatives for disease management. The Plant Endophyte Research Center at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) maintains a library of more than 2,000 characterized bacterial endophytes. These endophytes reside in the internal plat tissues and function as biostimulants and biocontrol agents.

Fighting Pythium with Biocontrol Agents

In a recently published study, a team of researchers led by IALR Senior Scientist Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa investigated the efficacy of a bacterial endophyte as a biocontrol agent against Pythium ultimum for cucumber and lettuce production.

Featured in the scientific journal POLS ONE, the recently published study investigates the use of a bacterial endophyte called IALR1619 (Pseudomonas sp.) to combat a common plant pathogen, Pythium ultimum. This pathogen causes issues in hydroponic lettuce and cucumber farming by stunting growth and even killing young plants. Pythium is a difficult-to-control disease in indoor and greenhouse farming systems, and there are only a few chemical treatments.

The study found that treating cucumber seedlings with IALR1619 improved their survival rates both when the plant was exposed to Pythium ultimum within one day of inoculation and several days later. Additionally, lettuce plants treated with IALR1619 showed better growth and higher yield than untreated ones, indicating the potential of this approach in different farming systems with a controlled environment.

Implications for Controlled Environment Agriculture Production

The findings of this study have significant implications for sustainable agriculture. By harnessing the natural protective mechanisms of biocontrol agents, growers can mitigate the environmental impact of conventional fungicides while maintaining effective disease control. Using biocontrol agents offers a promising avenue for integrated disease management strategies, providing growers with sustainable alternatives to chemical treatments.

The Research Team

Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Senior Scientist, IALR

Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist, IALR

Yimeng “Jack” He, Senior Analytical Chemist, IALR

Robert Chretien, Laboratory Research Associate, IALR

Mitchell Doss, Virginia Tech Research Specialist

Dr. Tim Durham, Associate Professor of Crop Science at Ferrum College

Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research, IALR

IALR Employees Earn Promotions

IALR Employees Earn Promotions

Congratulations to (L to R) Jessica Beebe, Dana Silicki,
Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Jessie Vernon and Dana Wilson,
who each earned promotions over the past three months.

Several IALR employees received promotions over the past few months. Dana Silicki and Jessie Vernon were each promoted to Advanced Learning Program Manager, effective Oct. 1, 2021. Silicki joined IALR in 2010 and oversees STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educational programming for youth and educators. She has over 18 years of experience in education and extension as a previous teacher, 4-H agent, and program coordinator. Vernon joined IALR in 2012 and in her role, she serves as program manager for the ExperienceWorks framework, which includes oversight for the Career ChoICE Expo, AspHIRE and Next generation Of Work (NOW) programs. Additionally, she serves as the Southside Tobacco Commission Region Coordinator and the Danville Hub Manager for CodeVA. Vernon has over 11 years of experience in formal and informal education, having taught at the middle and high school levels, prior to joining IALR.

Dana Wilson was promoted to Advanced Learning Program Coordinator II, effective Oct. 1, 2021. Wilson has served as the Work-based Learning Program Coordinator with IALR since July 2020. In this position, her efforts connect students with local employers who offer work-based learning opportunities, such as internships.

Jessica Beebe was promoted to Advanced Learning Program Coordinator II, effective Oct. 1, 2021. Beebe joined IALR in 2015 and currently works with the Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning program as well as several others including Dan River Year AmeriCorps.

Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa was promoted to Applied Research Scientist II, effective Nov. 1, 2021. Dr. Amaradasa joined IALR in 2018 as a plant pathologist. His research is focused on investigating beneficial plant bacterial endophytes to control economically important diseases of crops. His work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Amaradasa Leads Plant Endophyte Webinar

Dr. Amaradasa Leads Plant Endophyte Webinar

IALR held our second plant endophyte webinar featuring Dr. Sajeewa Amaradasa joined by Dr. Scott Lowman, Director of IALR’s Applied Research department. Dr. Amaradasa presented on “Exploring the Potential of Beneficial Bacterial Endophytes for Disease Control,” which explained how plant endophytes can serve as biological control agents. Participants gained knowledge of this fascinating topic during the webinar, which concluded with a live question-and-answer segment. Watch the full presentation at endophyteresearch.com.

Dr. Amaradasa (left) and Dr. Lowman (right) discuss IALR’s plant endophyte research during a webinar; IT, Communications, conferencing staff and the Research team contributed to this webinar, which is one of a series.

Within the presentation, participants learned how endophytic bacteria isolated from natural habitats are screened for biocontrol of plant diseases. IALR houses a library of more than 2,000 endophytes that are rapidly assayed in vitro and tested for commercial value in the greenhouse and field. These endophytes, which have been identified by members at the Plant Endophyte Research Center of IALR, provide new business opportunities. They also offer chances for further collaboration with universities for setting agricultural technology trends. The members of this research center include Lowman, Director; Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist; Robert Chretien, Laboratory Research Associate; Amy Turner, Laboratory Research Associate; and Amaradasa, Scientist.

One of the newest collaborative opportunities for this research center has been presented by the Virginia Tech (VT)-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center. This new indoor farming partnership with VT’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences allows endophytes’ biocontrol properties to be tested for their ability to prevent plant disease in a controlled environment. To learn more about this initiative and research efforts, visit ialr.org/cea.

The presenter, Dr. Amaradasa, has extensive experience in studying fungal plant pathogens and has played an instrumental role in screening IALR’s in-house collection of endophytes for disease control in economically important crops. He obtained his Ph. D. from Virginia Tech and brings research experience as a former post-doctoral researcher for the University of Nebraska and Florida.