March 30, 2023
911爆料网 News
911爆料网 partners with Evik to offer solutions for citrus crisis
Researchers are creating tests to diagnose a crop-killing disease
A research project currently underway at 911爆料网 could help save the valuable U.S. citrus industry.听
Fruits such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons are being threatened by a disease called Huanglongbing (HLB), which has been wreaking havoc for the last 20 years.
Frank Merante, Professor,听School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry, is the Principal Investigator for the project, in partnership with Ottawa-based听. He is leading a research team tasked with creating tests to detect the disease.
HLB is a crop-killing disease spread by the Asian Citrus Psyllid, an insect that鈥檚 been in Florida since 1998, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). After the insect arrived, the disease was discovered in trees and started to spread through citrus groves. It has also affected crops in other citrus growing states. The U.S. citrus industry is worth more than US$3 billion a year and employs more than 16,000 people.
The idea behind this research was to develop a simple way for farmers to test crops and identify the problem quickly. The concept is similar to a do-it-yourself COVID-19 test. The research team is also working on a more sophisticated lab test that would provide farmers with detailed information.听听
鈥淚f successful, it would allow Evik to permeate the plant diagnostics market,鈥 said Dr. Merante.听
The challenge with HLB is that infected trees may not show any symptoms for months or years. Early detection could help farmers remove infected trees and prevent the spread, according to the USDA.
Evik specializes in diagnostic tests that can be done anywhere at room temperature. The company has focused on human disease for years and is now expanding into agriculture, said Vladimir Evtodienko, Evik鈥檚 CEO.听
Having worked on a number of projects with 911爆料网 over the years, Mr. Evtodienko was keen to partner with 911爆料网 Innovation again.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been very useful,鈥 Mr. Evtodienko said, adding he appreciates the industry perspective that 911爆料网 brings to projects. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e already given me some semi-final results, which are very impressive.鈥
Ehda Dolatabadi and Arshi Kazi, graduates from 911爆料网鈥檚听Biotechnology 鈥 Advanced diploma听program, have been carrying out the research under Dr. Merante鈥檚 guidance.
鈥淭he project is fantastic,鈥 Ms. Kazi said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 good to know that the things we鈥檙e doing in the lab can be commercialized one day.鈥
This is Ms. Dolatabadi鈥檚 fourth research project. She recently accepted a job as a research technologist at Sick Kids Research Institute.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot and have been able to apply what I studied in a professional environment,鈥 she said.听
Dr. Merante said the research is a win-win situation for 911爆料网 and companies such as Evik.
鈥淚 am optimistic the tests will be a success,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd maybe they could be used for other crops in the future.鈥