Symbiosis and Biostimulants

During this module, we explore the differences and similarities between beneficial and pathogenic interactions. A significant portion of the course is devoted to understanding the mechanisms involved in beneficial interactions (mycorrhizae, symbiotic bacteria, PGPR, etc.) and their potential for improving agricultural practices.   Another significant part of the course covers regulations regarding product approval as well as trials involving biostimulants and biocontrol products.

Examples of outside speakers:

• Karine GROSBEAU (Eléphant vert): Regulations Governing Biostimulants and Biocontrol Products

Two visits

• A Visit to "Green Elephant": Bacterial Inoculum Production
• Visit to Staphyt: Testing of biocontrol products, GLP, GMP, and CEB

A lab in which students have three sessions to conduct an experiment to test the effect of a PGPR on wheat growth under various conditions. Students must phenotype the plants, perform biochemical assays (sugar, nitrogen, chlorophyll, etc.), and measure enzyme activities (catalase, nitrate reductase, etc.).

Knowledge

• Have a basic understanding of beneficial microorganisms in order to conduct an experiment in biostimulation or biocontrol.
• Understand the rules for testing biocontrol products (stimulation)
• Understand the regulations governing the approval of biocontrol products (stimulation)

Expertise

• Have experience conducting trials with a biostimulant
• Have experience with phenotyping
• Know how to perform a biochemical assay and measure enzyme activity.
• Know how to develop a protocol based on the Materials and Methods section of a scientific publication

Hourly volumes*:

            CM: 15

            TD: 15

            Lot: 6

• basics of microbiology,
• Fundamentals of Plant-Microorganism Interactions

Recommended prerequisites*:

• basics of laboratory techniques