Marrone and her team discovered and developed a strain of the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis that fights a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases, including gray mold, powdery mildew, leaf and stem blights, and fireblight. Called Serenade®, this natural pesticide attacks pathogens on several fronts — it prevents them from attaching to leaves, stops fungal spores from growing, disrupts spore growth and activates the plant’s natural defenses. It can be used on pome fruits, grapes and vegetables.
Found in an orchard in Fresno County, Calif., Serenade® is just as, or more, effective than conventional pesticides but virtually nontoxic to humans, birds, fish and invertebrates, said Marrone.
Farmers may use the pesticide with their existing integrated pest management or biological control systems because it doesn’t cause secondary diseases or insect problems, and it is nontoxic to beneficial insects. Serenade® is easily applied like a chemical pesticide and can be used up to and including the day of harvest. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the pesticide for agricultural and home and garden use.
The American Chemical Society’s Industrial Innovation Awards recognize individuals and teams whose discoveries and inventions contribute to the commercial success of their companies and enhance our quality of life.
Stephen Flanagan is a product development specialist at AgraQuest, Inc. He received his B.S. in soil and water science from the University of California, Davis, in 1984 and his M.S. in plant science from California State University, Fresno, in 1995. He resides in Davis, Calif.
Jennifer Ryder Fox, Ph.D., is vice president of regulatory affairs and technical development at AgraQuest, Inc. She received her B.S. in soil science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1978 and her M.S. in soil microbiology and Ph.D. in agronomy and horticulture from New Mexico State University in 1980 and 1989. She resides in Davis, Calif.
Sherry Heins is a staff researcher in microbiology at AgraQuest, Inc. She received her B.S. in the biological sciences from the University of California, Davis, in 1987. She resides in Davis, Calif.
Denise C. Manker, Ph.D., is a research manager at AgraQuest, Inc. She received her B.S. in biology from the University of South Florida in 1984 and her Ph.D. in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1988. She resides in Davis, Calif.
Pamela G. Marrone, Ph.D., is president and CEO of AgraQuest, Inc. She received her B.S. in entomology from Cornell University in 1978 and her Ph.D. in entomology from North Carolina State University in 1983. She resides in Davis, Calif.
Jimmy Orjala, Ph.D., is a senior staff researcher at AgraQuest, Inc. He received his B.S. in pharmacology and his Ph.D. in natural science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 1988 and 1993. He resides in Davis, Calif.