Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The research in this project has developed agricultural waste products, most specifically manure, as a series of products for spill cleanup especially of oily materials. It also has developed products for removal of hydrogen sulfide from gas streams, including, for example, those resulting from anaerobic digestion of wastes such as manure and food wastes. Moreover, it has pioneered the use of root-associated microbes to increase resistance of plants to stresses such as those encountered in polluted soils. Once plants become resistant to the wastes, then other microbes colonize the roots and, quite frequently, accelerate the decomposition of biodegradable substances such as oils. Beyond that, these same microbes have had major impacts. They interact with plants to increase resistance to disease, resistance to abiotic stresses including drought (this was quite important in 2012), increase root growth and depth, improve photosynthetic efficiency and increase crop yields reliably. PARTICIPANTS: One graduate student, Fatemeh Mastouri, completed her PhD studies. Terrenew LLC, a company located in Geneva, NY was involved with the development of the oil spill and hydrogen sulfide projects. Advanced Biological Marketing, located in Van Wert, OH, was involved with the development of systems to increase plant growth and yield. TARGET AUDIENCES: The greatest impact is on farmers who use the plant-microbe products for yield enhancement. Their returns on investment are high and the acceptance of the products are very good. The products also are now sold in 11 other countries with 15 countries pending. There are a number of companies who distribute the products both in the US and abroad. These products are rapidly becoming standard practices in Midwestern US and will rapidly spread worldwide. There are a range of other products that are being developed to complement these first seed treatments. The oil spill and hydrogen sulfide products have a number of customers, and or only now becoming accepted in the marketplace. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The biggest change in the approach was our decision to push forward at a higher priority the abilities of the beneficial fungi that we developed to increase plant yields and productivity. Thsese developments exceeded expectations and are becoming a major help in world agriculture.
Impacts
There have been a number of useful products developed. For oil spill cleanup, there are three separate granular products, all with bovine manure as the starting materials,and two pad materials with different properties. These are all sold commercially and perform better than alternative products, most of which are manufactured from silica or from nonrenewable petroleum. Similarly, the hydrogen sulfide removal product provides effective cleanup and is quite cost-effective. The plant-microbe interaction studies have provided microbial agents and products that increase plant productivity. In the past year, their abilities to decrease sensitivity to drought was very important. The products increase maize yields by an average of about 8.5 bu/acre, and have a return on investment by farmers of about 6:1. Similar results were obtained with soybeans and wheat, although the return on investment with these crops is greater than those with maize. The mechanisms of resistance to drought and improvements in photosynthetic efficiency include control of adverse redox evironnments within the plant.
Publications
- Mastouri, F., T. Bjorkman and G. E. Harman, 2012: Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 enhances antioxidant defense of tomato seedlings and resistance to water deficit. Molec. Plant Microbe Interact. 25, 1264-1271.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This multifaceted project has a number of positive outputs. As regards production of carbon-neutral energy, major progress has been made in development of product to efficiently and effectively remove hydrogen sulfide from gases. This pollutant is a common component of biogas for energy production, is produced in landfills and sewage treatment systems and needs to be removed. It is toxic (many sites produce lethal levels), damages generator engines and, if burned results in production of sulfuric acid in the exhaust plume. We have developed a manure-based medium (tradenamed SulfaMaster) that is highly efficient in removal of hydrogen sulfide and this can be easily regenerated, making it probably the most cost-effective medium for the purpose. We also have and are developing systems for potting soils and fertilizers for agriculture and greenhouses. These materials, like SulfaMaster, use agricultural waste products (manure or other materials) together with other ingredients. A critical component are patent-pending strains of beneficial fungi in the genus Trichoderma. These strains improve plant performance through systemically changing plant gene expression. They increase resistance to plant diseases, enhance resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salt, improve seed germination and seedling vigor, increase photosynthetic efficiency and improve plant nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency. These same strains when added as seed treatments reliably improve yields of major crops such as soybeans, maize, wheat, and rice. The development of these advantages is highly dependent on knowledge of specific mechanisms. A very useful finding is that many of these advantages are conferred by a common mechanism. Plants under biotic or abiotic stress, or even during photosynthesis, may produce toxic levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), just as humans do under stress (free radical formation is one consequence). Plants contain innate systems to ameliorate and adjust levels of ROS, and the Trichoderma strains induce them to express the genes that encode proteins that overcome much of the negative effects of ROS. If the redox potential of plants is maintained at optimal levels even in the presence of stress, much of the negative effects of stresses are overcome and photosynthetic efficiency can be increased. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Technicians Amy Brooks and Robert Patrick Graduate student (now with PhD) Fatemeh Mastouri Partner companies: Terrenew LLC, Geneva, NY and Advanced Biological Marketing, Van Wert, OH TARGET AUDIENCES: The technologies developed have a number of target audiences, as follows: The hydrogen sulfide removal systems are being developed in conjunction primarily with several bioenergy producers. They have systems in place in several locations. Thus, bioenergy producers are a large target audience. The potting soils and fertilizers are in market development. A number of local retail garden outlets and commercial greenhouses are strongly interested, and this will extend much further. In addition, the ability to produce fertilizers that do not pollute waterways with nitrate are highly interesting to municipalities, other government agencies and private homeowners. The row crop seed treatments are being used fairly widely around the US and internationally. Farmers and other agbio companies are target audiences. In addition, the products are beging registered and used in a number of countries around the world. This effort is part of the W2147 regional project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We have been able to build on platform technologies to produce valuable and environmentally products and technologies that we did not expect when we began the project.
Impacts
The impacts of these efforts are large. The hydrogen sulfide removal system can enhance bioenergy systems in the US by reducing costs. This can only be achieved, however, by the development of appropriate vessels and systems to contain the medium. This is being done on a commercial scale at this time. The greenhouse, fertilizer and row crop products have large benefits as well. The greenhouse potting mix we are developing is novel, and does not require any fertilization for more than 120 days. This is a consequence of both the slow release N from manure and nitrogen use efficiency induced by Trichoderma strains. The medium is fully organic, and so it is easy to produce organic crops, just add plants and water. In addition, there appear also to be health and taste benefits. Tomatoes produced in the presence of the Trichoderma strains taste differently, and most tasters indicate that the taste is improved; more like garden tomatoes even when grown in the greenhouse. Moreover, the control of ROS also appears to have the side benefit of increasing the antioxidant levels in fruits. The fertilizer is being developed from proteinaceous farm wastes and we have discovered microbes and systems to release the required nitrogen, as ammonia and amino acids, at a controlled rate that supports plant growth well. This is augmented by NUE-enhancing Trichoderma strains. The result is anticipated to be an organic fertilizer that performs as well as inorganic synthetic fertilizers, even for turf, but that, unlike the inorganic synthetics, does not pollute water with nitrates. The row crop products strongly improve the return on investment for US farmers of at least 10:1 just based on yield improvements. The products are inexpensive to use because very little is required per acre. Yield benefits in maize over many field trials and three years, is about 8 bu/acre. Of course, the plants grown from treated seeds also are more resistant to disease and stress, which contributes to the yield increase. If this treatment was applied over 10% of the wheat, maize and soybean acreage in the US, the anticipated increase in net farm income would be close to 1 billion dollars. The advantages in the developing world are even greater, since the improved NUE and other benefits in part overcome lacks of inputs.
Publications
- Harman, G. E. 2011. Trichoderma, not just for biocontrol anymore. Phytoparasitica Guest Editorial. 39:103-108.
- Harman, G. E. 2011. Multifunctional fungal plant symbionts: new tools to enhance plant growth and productivity. New Phytol. 189:647-649.
- Mastouri, F., T. Bjorkman, and G.E. Harman. 2012. Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 enhances antioxidant defense of tomato seedlings and resistance to water deficit. Molec. Plant Microbe Interact. accepted with revision.
- Harman, G. E. Improved natural media for plant propagation. PTO application filed March, 2011
- Harman, G. E. and Lei, X. A highly efficient natural fertilizer and components thereof. Provisional patent filed December, 2011.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research in this project has demonstrated that agricultural wastes, particularly from dairy manure, has demonstrated that such products are valuable and can be used for oil spill cleanup, agricultural uses including those used for horticultural products. While manure and mushroom composts are currently sold to home gardeners, all or most available products are heavy and muddy due to high moisture content. We have developed drying techniques to produce "clean hands" dry manure and mushroom compost products for use as a soil conditioner that are pathogen-, dust- and weed free. These can be formulated into a variety of products, including potting soil, soil conditioners, and organic fertilizers. In addition, we have developed advanced new strains of beneficial fungi in the genus Trichoderma. These organisms have been known for many decades as biocontrol agents for plant diseases, but we now know that their capabilities are much greater. They are multifunctional plant symbionts. The best strains colonize plant roots and establish chemical communication with plants that result in systemic changes in plant physiology. We now know that select strains improve plant nitrogen use efficiency, increase resistance to abiotic stresses including drought, salt and other stresses. The changes they induce are long-term, so a single application per season results in season-long benefits. These alterations require increased energy that occurs via photosynthesis. These beneficial fungi increase photosynthetic efficiency. PARTICIPANTS: The work was conducted in association with Advanced Biological Marketing of Van Wert, Ohio and Terrenew LLC of Geneva, NY.A number of persons in these companies have contributed to the work and providing grant support. The work was conducted by Fatemeh Mastouri as part of her PhD thesis, and with technical support provided by Robert Patrick and Amy Brooks. International collaborators include Matteo Lorito, Univesity of Naples, Italy; Ilan Chet, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers are adopting Trichoderma and related microbes and this is becoming an integral part of agricultural systems. Greenhouse and landscapers are becoming quite interested. Organic growers and homeowners are receptive to the new products and technologies. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The benefits of the use of Trichoderma in agriculture are large. The improvements in nitrogen use efficiency are especially important. Field and greenhouse tests indicate that reductions in N fertilizer application of 50% are possible with no reduction in yield over a wide range of crops. If the advanced strains/products are used just on wheat (66 million acres in the USA) there could be savings of more than 1 billion pounds of N. Since nitrogen fertilizers contribute to both water and air pollution, this can provide significant environmental advantages. Moreover, trials over two years across the USA have demonstrated improvements in yields of corn, soybeans, rice and wheat that provide more than 20:1 return on farm investment for the strains when used as seed treatments. The advantages are even greater in the developing world, where availability of funds for inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers are limited or unavailable. In these conditions, improvements in nitrogen use efficiency and biotic and abiotic stress resistance become extremely important. Economic systems for providing high quality Trichoderma products to smallholders and others in medium and low income countries have been developed and are being implemented in several countries. Similarly, the development of the the products based on agricultural waste systems can be integrated with Trichoderma systems to reduce user costs and decrease negative environmental degradation.
Publications
- Harman, G.E., M.A. Obregon, G.J. Samuels, and M. Lorito. 2010. Changing models of biocontrol in the developing and developed world. Plant Dis. 94:928-939.
- Lorito, M., S.L. Woo, G.E. Harman, and E. Monte. 2010. Translational research on Trichoderma: from 'omics to the field. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 48:395-417.
- Shoresh, M., F. Mastouri, and G.E. Harman. 2010. Induced systemic resistance and plant responses to fungal biocontrol agents. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 48:21-43.
- Harman, G.E., and F. Mastouri. 2010. Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in wheat using Trichoderma seed inoculants, Vol. 7, pp. 1-4. International Society for Plant-Microbe Intereactons, St. Paul, MN.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Research in the past year has focused on development of processes and products for environmental remediation and for horticultural purposes using dairy manure. Several separate systems have been developed, including (a) several different loose materials that have excellent capability for oil and other spill cleanup; (b) pads and similar materials for oil and other spill cleanup; (c) use of manure as a substitute/replacement for peat moss in horticultural planting media; (d) development of pads containing manure as a horticultural growth medium for instant turf, architectural uses, erosion control and similar purposes; (e) development of media for removal of hydrogen sulfide from air, including purification of biogas from anaerobic fermenters for bioenergy production, cleaning of gases produced in petroleum extraction and refining, and odor control for water treatment plants and the like. We also have developed systems using waste tree bark for removal of heavy metals from polluted water. Products: All of the discoveries and systems above are being produced as useful products. The loose materials for oil spill cleanup are already in the marketplace, and market introduction of the others are expected in the upcoming year. Several patents have been filed and more are on their way. PARTICIPANTS: Two individuals, Robert Patrick and Amy Brooks have been employed on this project; Mr. Patrick is employed part time at Cornell and partly by the commercial company Terrenew. Both of these persons have gained a great deal of experience and training in the course of their work. Dr. Terry Spittler, a retired analytic chemist from Cornell, has been integral to the project. The company Terrenew has been a partner in the entire activity. Several employees of Terrenew, including CEO Thomas Bourne and Mr. Kevin Clark, have contributed greatly. Terrnew is a tenant of the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Project. Funding has been provided especially by the USDA SBIR program and by the Cornell Biotechnology Program, which is funded by NYSTAR. TARGET AUDIENCES: There are a large number of target audiences. One of these are farmers who produce manure and from whom Terrenew buys its raw ingredients. Others are customers of the products; the oil and spill absorbent materials are marketed by a number of distributors primarily in the NE USA. The use of these products is providing improvements to this industry. The sulfur removal project is of great interest to producers of filter vessels and systems, electrical generator providers for bioenergy, to the oil industry where sour gas is a problem and to water treatment operators. For example, see http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsparticle_id=2275 PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The major changes comprise the significant progress that has been made in all phases of the work, that that are bringing useful, very environmentally rsponsible products to the markeplace.
Impacts
These efforts have a number of positive outcomes, as follows: 1. They create markets for agricultural wastes, especially manures. 2. They provide products composed of renewable products to replace other products that are not renewable or sustainable. For example, the pads for oil spill cleanup are made of manure, and replace pads that are composed of polypropylene, which is not renewable and has a large environmental footprint. The use of manure for replacement of peat moss in planting medium is an environmental plus, since peat moss is harvested from bogs that are at best only semi-renewable. 3. The projects provide novel products for uses such as green roofs and other environmentally friendly building and landscaping uses. 4. The product being developed for hydrogen sulfide removal is expected to contribute significantly to bioenergy development. For example, biogas from anaerobic fermenters contains methane that can be used as fuel, but the levels of hydrogen sulfide corrode generators and contribute to air pollution. Our manure-based products can be rengenerated a number of times, making them economical, and will contribute to energy efficiency. 5. New economic opportunities and employment is occuring as a consequence of this project. A new company, Terrenew, has been formed to commercialize the products just mentioned. It already has significant sales and several products will be launched in the coming year, which will further increase economic opportunities and jobs.
Publications
- Harman, G. E., and T. D. Spittler. 2007. Remediation and reclamation of heavy metals from aqueous liquid. PCT WO2006096472.
- Harman, G. E., T. D. Spittler, S. F. Neilsen, and B. P. Thomas. 2007. Removal of oils from solid surfaces and water with a substance having a high humate level. PCT WO2007035672.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research in this project has resulted in substantial increases in our understanding of interactions between the opportunistic plant symbiont Trichoderma harzianum and plants. We have demonstrated that the activity of the plant symbiont reduces a number of biotic and abiotic stresses, including plant diseases via induction of systemic resistance, and in overcoming effects of drought, and effects of negative effects of high levels of salts and osmotic stress. The organisms can even overcome intrinsic stresses such as poor seed quality. Beyond this, the organism can improve nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency, which can result in alleviation of air and water pollution. Nitrogen fertilizers not taken up by plants are air pollutants (nitrous oxides are potent greenhouse gases) and water pollutants (nitrate and nitrite release into waterways are potential human health hazards and contribute to algal blooms and dead zones in estuaries and bays at the mouths of rivers. All of this is indicative of fundamental changes in physiology and this does occur as demonstrated by changes in the maize proteome. Proteomic data indicates an improvement in photosynthetic rate and general metabolism, which permits greater plant growth and the energetic capability of plants and makes possible the other beneficial effects just noted. Beyond this, we have developed methods and protocols for the use of loose dried manure and of pads composed primarily of manure for oil spill cleanup. This is expected to make use of an agricultural waste product and to replace other products with large carbon footprints. These products are in the commercial marketplace. We also have developed manure-based media for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from gases. This will permit, among other uses, greater use of biogas from farm digesters and from landfills for energy production. Hydrogen sulfide is a highly corrosive, toxic and polluting gas that needs to be removed for efficient energy production. PARTICIPANTS: The research on Trichoderma was supported in part by a subcontract from the USDA SBIR and from Advanced Biological Marketing of Van Wert, OH and, in Canada, from Canadian funding agencies and ICUS of St. Johns, NL. Dan Custis and Gordon Genge are the CEOs of the companies. Technical support was from Kristen Ondik and Amy Brooks. Research on the effects of Trichoderma on seeds was performed by graduate student Fatemeh Mastouri. The research on manure-based products was in cooperation with Terrenew LLC and was supported in part by the Cornell Center for Advanced Technology, by USDA SBIR and by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority. SBIR and Terrenew provided direct grants to the projects. Technical support was provides by Robert Patrick and Terry Spittler was a research collaborator. Tom Bourne is the CEO of Terrenew and the PI of the company grants. Demonstration projects for the hydrogen sulfide project occured on El-Vi Farms of Newark, NY and at a commercial landfill. Development of manure pads was performed in cooperation with Southeast Nonwovens of Clover, SC. TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers are one large target audience. The wheat farmers in both the US and Canada will be contacted and the advantages of the products demonstrated (several hundred thousand hectares of wheat are already planted to Trichoderma treated wheat). Seed processors and treaters also are being engaged to provide treated seeds. It is expected that this will create new markets and jobs and reduce air and water pollution. Similarly, the oil spill clean up products are already being marketed and, as the technology is adopted, will provide better and more environmentally friendly spill cleanup for a range of spills, ranging from garage floor to Exxon Valdez sized spills. Finally, farms and manufacturers of anerobic digestor systems are being introduced to the sulfur removal technology and this combination of forces is expected to provide considerably more energy from farm wastes, landfills and the like. All of this is expected to create a relatively large number of employment. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The developments and demonstrations of the capabilities of Trichoderma strains on plant production are expected to increase farm income and reduce pollution. For example, a wheat seed treatment results almost always in greater yields and permits, we expect a 40% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use with no yield penalty. The return to farmer investment is about 8 to 1, and the reduction in fertilizer will pay for the seed treatment. This will also result in less air pollution since N fertilizer not taken up by plants may be converted to nitrous oxides, which are important greenhouse gases. It will reduce water pollution; nitrates and nitrites leaching from soil are human health hazards and contribute to algal blooms including dead zones in esturaries and river mouths. The use of manure can increase farm income by providing an alternative to land speading, which is costly to large farmers, and will substitute an income stream. The oil spill cleanup capabilities are expected to provide better and much more ecologically friendly products than the clay and polypropylene that are currently used. Since manure is produced everywhere, energy costs associated with shipping can also be reduced. Finally, the hydrogen sulfide removal technololgies are expected to create and permit greater use of biogas from anerobic fermenters and landfills, as well as other generating systems, and this also can both improve energy sufficiency and increase farm income.
Publications
- Harman, G. E., Bjorkman, T., Ondik, K. and Shoresh, M. 2008. Changing paradigms on the mode of action and uses of Trichoderma spp. for biocontrol. Outlooks Pest Manag. 19:24-29.
- Shoresh, M. and G. E. Harman. 2008. The molecular basis of shoot responses of maize seedlings to Trichoderma harzianum T22 inoculation of the root: a proteomic approach. Plant Physiol. 147:2147-216.
- Shoresh, M. and G. E. Harman. 2008. Genome-wide identification, expression and chromosomal location of the chitinase genes in Zea mays. Molec. Gen. Genom. 280:173-185.
- Shoresh, M. and Harman, G. E. 2008. The relationship between increased growth and resistance induced in plants by root colonizing microbes. Plant Signal. Behav. 3:737-739.
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