Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00531, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Smith, Donald (McGill University)|Smith, Donald (Université McGill), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Quebec|Québec, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for Universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : We have known that some microbes associate with plant roots and improve plant growth for over a century._x000D_
Over the last decade we have come to appreciate that there is a regulated population of microbes associated_x000D_
with the roots of all crop plants - the phytomicrobiome. The phytomicrobiome is now being sampled as crop_x000D_
management input. The century-old soybean inoculant industry is the paradigm for this: a very inexpensive_x000D_
product is applied on large land areas and reduces the application of nitrogen fertilizer, reducing greenhouse_x000D_
gas emissions, waterway eutrophication and groundwater contamination. There is a growing interest in the use_x000D_
of "biologicals" as a way to reduce agriculture's environmental footprint. EVL has developed a set of_x000D_
plant-associated bacteria that improves the growth of crop plants and can be applied with fertilizers. We_x000D_
propose to improve understanding of the mode of action for these strains. This will consist of determining_x000D_
production, by these microbes, of plant hormones or plant hormone analogues, proteins able to stimulate plant_x000D_
growth and the ability of these materials in the broth in which the microbes were produced (after the cells were_x000D_
removed) to enhance plant growth. The latter could lead to an eventual cell free product EVL has made some_x000D_
effort and understanding the mechanism of action of these microbes consortium however it does not have the_x000D_
research expertise or facilities to allow the research proposed; a relationship with the Smith lab at McGill will_x000D_
overcome this. This work will improve the sustainability and economics of Canadian agricultural and give_x000D_
Canada further leadership in the agricultural application of biologicals. The work will provide a deeper_x000D_
understanding of mechanisms by which the microbe strains increase plant growth, leading to a broader_x000D_
collaboration between EVL Inc and McGill University; one that will allow further utilization of biologicals and_x000D_
the development of new products in this area., program purpose french : We have known that some microbes associate with plant roots and improve plant growth for over a century._x000D_
Over the last decade we have come to appreciate that there is a regulated population of microbes associated_x000D_
with the roots of all crop plants - the phytomicrobiome. The phytomicrobiome is now being sampled as crop_x000D_
management input. The century-old soybean inoculant industry is the paradigm for this: a very inexpensive_x000D_
product is applied on large land areas and reduces the application of nitrogen fertilizer, reducing greenhouse_x000D_
gas emissions, waterway eutrophication and groundwater contamination. There is a growing interest in the use_x000D_
of "biologicals" as a way to reduce agriculture's environmental footprint. EVL has developed a set of_x000D_
plant-associated bacteria that improves the growth of crop plants and can be applied with fertilizers. We_x000D_
propose to improve understanding of the mode of action for these strains. This will consist of determining_x000D_
production, by these microbes, of plant hormones or plant hormone analogues, proteins able to stimulate plant_x000D_
growth and the ability of these materials in the broth in which the microbes were produced (after the cells were_x000D_
removed) to enhance plant growth. The latter could lead to an eventual cell free product EVL has made some_x000D_
effort and understanding the mechanism of action of these microbes consortium however it does not have the_x000D_
research expertise or facilities to allow the research proposed; a relationship with the Smith lab at McGill will_x000D_
overcome this. This work will improve the sustainability and economics of Canadian agricultural and give_x000D_
Canada further leadership in the agricultural application of biologicals. The work will provide a deeper_x000D_
understanding of mechanisms by which the microbe strains increase plant growth, leading to a broader_x000D_
collaboration between EVL Inc and McGill University; one that will allow further utilization of biologicals and_x000D_
the development of new products in this area., agreement title english : Investigations of a microbial community improving plant access to nutrients and overall growth, agreement title french : Investigations of a microbial community improving plant access to nutrients and overall growth, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2017-04-25, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada