COMMINANDES
Progress Report
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PROJECT START DATE : 01/10/2000
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DURATION : 48 months
COMMINANDES aims at combining composting technology with microbial beneficial inoculants as potato coating, for sustainable potato production within urban and peri-urban areas.
To
carry out the work it was broken up into seven work packages as follows:
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WP1 : The
development of a chain of waste management between farmer associations and
urban agro-industries
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below for:
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WP2 :The characterization of pilot sites in urban and peri-urban areas in the
target region
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below for:
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WP3 :
The establishment of a collection of AMF and PGPR species from the pilot
sites
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below for:
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WP4 :
The development of the microbial-coated potato technology and product
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below for:
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WP5 :
The development of micro-scale composting systems, based on management of
organic waste from agro-industries, in collaboration with farmer
associations
Click
below for:
q
WP6 :
The assessment of impact of microbial inoculants, compost and
microbial-coated potato product on potato based crop cultivation
practices and on abiotic and biotic stresses in controlled and field
conditions.
Click
below for:
q
WP7 :
The diffusion within farmer field schools of trainings on bio-composting
and micro-organisms management and the diffusion of the technology,
cultural practices and product developed to farmers associations and
NGO’s
Click
below for:
WP1.
Development of a chain of waste management between farmer associations and
urban agro-industries.
This activity is conducted by partner 4 and 5 with the objective to stimulate, establish and maintain a chain of waste management between potato and other crop farmers, producer associations in identified Peri-urban pilot sites and available either urban agro-industries involved in transformation of vegetal products or other sources of organic waste.
Achievements:
In Bolivia as well as in Ecuador, visits were conducted to urban
agro-industries (potato agro-industries), local authorities, NGO’s,
farmers producer associations … to select pilot sites. Criteria for
selection were presence of potato agro-industry and potato crop, organic
waste residues (vegetable and animal), crop diversification, irrigation
water, availability of communal infrastructure, predisposition for
communal work, effective organization of stockholders, local authorities
support, compost elaboration experience, distance to the local fairs
(markets), roads, and communication.
In Bolivia, Peri- urban municipalities of Sacaba and Quillacollo,
Cochabamba and several farmers producer associations in localities of
Tiraque and Lope de Mendoza were visited, while in Ecuador, twelve sites
(Pichincha, Cañar, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Carchi) were visited.
Chain of waste management has been established with Cochabamba
municipality and between crop
producers in the pilot sites.
Based on the visit and surveys, two pilot sites were selected in Bolivia (Cochabamba - Provinces of Carrasco and Tiraque) and in Ecuador (Virgen de la Nube – Province of Cañar and Chaupiloma – Province of Pichicha).
Agreements
have been signed in Bolivia
and Ecuador for the establishment of a chain of waste managements. These
agreements have been signed with farmers (in Ecuador) and with a
municipality producing waste in Bolivia. Therefore, urban organic waste
residues and rural post-harvest residues will be available during the
whole duration of the project favouring an efficient organic waste
management for bio-compost preparation in pilot sites.
This
resulted in the successful completion of two deliverables
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Cooperation rules on waste management between farmers associations and agro-industries (deliverable 1)
- Availability of biological waste to farmer associations for microscale composting (deliverable 2)
This
activity is conducted by partner 4 and 5 with the objective to
stimulate, establish and maintain a chain of waste management between
potato and other crop farmers, producer associations in identified
Peri-urban pilot sites and available either urban agro-industries involved
in transformation of vegetal products or other sources of organic waste. .
Achievements
:
a.
The chain of waste management has been started at the beginning
of year 1 and consolidated since then both in Bolivia and Ecuador.
b.
In Bolivia, agreements
for compost production has been based on organic wastes from urban
sources (Kara Kara, Environmental Unit for waste collection in Cochabamba
city) and rural post-harvest residues (farmers in pilot sites). Biological
waste is now made available to farmer associations for micro-scale
composting.
WP2.
Characterization of pilot sites in urban and peri-urban areas in the
target region
This activity is conducted by partners 1a, 1b, 2, 4, 5 and 6 with
the objectives to recognise the abiotic and biotic factors to be
afforded by the experimental trials (knowledge about physical and chemical
soil characteristics, diversity of PGPR, populations of diazatroph
organisms associated to Glomalean spores in situ, characterisation
of pathogenic communities) in the designated pilot sites.
Achievements :
a.
In Bolivia as well as in Ecuador, soil samples of the pilot sites
were sampled and processed for physico-chemical analysis and potato
bio-essays.
b.
A long-term survey is under process involving agro-ecological
social economic, politic and environmental aspects
c.
Studies on microorganisms functional groups are under investigation
in full collaboration with partner 6.
d.
Soils samples were sent to partner 1a and partner 2 for the
establishment of the culture collection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(partner 1a) and PGPR (partner 2)
In
parallel pilot sites were selected in Bolivia and Ecuador in urban and
peri-urban areas to conduct all the experiments. In Bolivia two pilot
sites were selected in the area of Cochabamba (Province Carrasco and
Tiraque) and in Ecuador two pilot sites were selected in the Province of
Canar (Virgen de la Nube) and in the Province of Pichincha (Chaupiloma).
In Bolivia, the pilot sites have been fully characterized, considering
their physico-chemical characteristics and their populations in
micro-organisms (PGPR, AMF and other microbes), while in Ecuador, only
physico-chemical characteristics and selection of Pseudomonas spp.
and trichoderma spp. have been achieved. The other populations of
micro-organisms will be assessed in year 2.
This
resulted in the successful completion of two deliverables
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Databank on environmental abiotic factors (deliverable 3)
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Databank on biotic soil components (deliverable 4)
This
activity is conducted by partners 1a, 1b, 2, 4, 5 and 6 with the objectives
to recognise the abiotic and biotic factors to be afforded by the
experimental trials (knowledge about physical and chemical soil
characteristics, diversity of PGPR, populations of diazatroph organisms
associated to Glomalean spores in situ, characterisation of
pathogenic communities) in the designated pilot sites.
Achievements
:
a.
In Bolivia as well as in Ecuador, soil samples of the pilot sites
were sampled at the start of the project. Part of these samples were send
to partner 1 and 2 for AM fungi and PGPR isolation. The other soils
samples were examined for abiotic and biotic components (partner 4,5 and
6).
b.
Concerning AM fungal species, trap cultures have been established.
AM fungal species from these trap cultures are under identification
process. At the level of genera, most belongs to Glomus, Acaulospora
and Gigaspora. In vitro culture of these strains will start
in the coming months (partner 1).
c.
Mycorrhizal functioning characterization including the study of:
arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, external mycelium mycomass, rootlets
dry phytomass, spore populations and communities, as well as the
characterization of functional groups of soil micro-organisms including
total heterotrophs, total fungi, total actynomycetes, diazotrophic
bacteria, phosphate solubilizing micro-organisms and cellulolythic
organisms were conducted (partner 6).
d.
Concerning bacteria, Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.
were isolated, enumerated and categorized by partner 2 using MALDI TOF
WP3 :
Establishment of a collection of AMF and PGPR species from the pilot sites
This
activity is conducted by partners 1a, 2, 4, 5 and 6 with the objectives
to establish and maintain a collection of AMF and PGPR sampled in WP2,
available to each partner involved in the project. Both collections will
be based on species collected in the pilot sites (WP2). In vivo and
in vitro cultures maintenance will be considered. The collection
will be centralized at partner 1a’s institution for AMF with a support
of partner 6 for the identification and at partner 2’s institution for
PGPR. In parallel, to this centralized collection, individual collections
will be maintained in partner 4 and 5 institution.
Achievements :
a.
Soils samples from the pilot sites in Bolivia and Ecuador were send
to partner 1a and 2 at the start of the project.
b.
The AMF isolated from the soil samples will be used to set up a in
vitro culture collection of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the
pilot sites.
c.
Sub-collections (in vivo) are maintained in Bolivia and
Ecuador.
d.
Taxonomic identification of AMF sampled from the field is underway
and being conducted by partner 6, while for PGPR (partner 2)
characterisation is underway.
The
establishment, maintenance and characterization of a representative
collection of AMF and PGPR collected from the pilot sites is underway.
Some PGPR species are already characterized and maintained under
standardized controlled conditions and are available to the partners of
the consortium. Concerning AMF species, the process of cultivation is
longer (several months of culture on trap plants), before isolation,
characterization and distribution. From the first observations, species
are present on the trap plants and are at present under isolation,
purification and multiplication process. The first species will be
identified during the second year of the project and available to the
partners by the end of the second year.
Following these results, the two deliverables scheduled by the end of year 1 (see below) are partially completed for PGPR and underway for AMF. The establishment of the collections is started and will be completed during the whole duration of the project. Identically, the distribution of species will start begin year 2 for PGPR and presumably for AMF and will be maintained and reinforced during the duration of the project.
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Establishment of a collection of AMF and PGPR (Deliverable 5)
- Distribution of AMF and PGPR on request (Deliverable 6)
This
activity is conducted by partners 1a, 2, 4, 5 and 6 with the objectives
to establish and maintain a collection of AMF and PGPR sampled in WP2,
available to each partner involved in the project. Both collections will
be based on species collected in the pilot sites (WP2). In vivo and
in vitro cultures maintenance will be considered. The collection
will be centralized at partner 1a’s institution for AMF with a support
of partner 6 for the identification and at partner 2’s institution for
PGPR. In parallel, to this centralized collection, individual collections
will be maintained in partner 4 and 5 institution.
Achievements
:
a.
Soils samples from the pilot sites in Bolivia and Ecuador were send
to partner 1a and 2 at the start of the project.
b.
The AM fungi are on trap plants and a first set of strains are
under process of identification (in conjunction with partner 6) and will
be used to set up a in vitro culture collection of the AM fungi of
the pilot sites (partner 1).
c.
Sub-collections (in vivo) are maintained in Bolivia and
Ecuador.
WP4 :
Development of microbial-coated potato technology and product
This activity is conducted by partners 3 and 6 with objectives
to develop a low-cost, easy-to-use microbial inoculants for potato, based
on the coating of tubers and/or emerging roots with indigenous AMF and
PGPR selected from the micro-organisms collection (WP3).
Achievements :
a.
A method to encapsulate AMF propagules (intraradical phase of the
fungus) around potato seeds (tubers) has been developed.
b.
Natural encapsulation of tubers developed in inoculated soils with
AMF is under investigation. This methodology aims at producing tuber seeds
naturally entrapped with AMF strains. Substrate allowing such natural
encapsulation on tuber is under investigation.
The
development of a microbial-coating potato technology and product is
underway. At present three types of coating have been tested, all of which
are economically-realistic and biologically sound. Results were positive
with AMF.
The
investigation of coating technology is started and will continue during
the whole duration of the project. Therefore the deliverable scheduled
under this activity (to be started month 0 and to be delivered month 36)
is timely.
- Development of microbial-coating potato technology (deliverable 7)
This
activity is conducted by partners 3 and 6 with objectives to
develop a low-cost, easy-to-use microbial inoculants for potato, based on
the coating of tubers and/or emerging roots with indigenous AMF and PGPR
selected from the micro-organisms collection (WP3).
Achievements
:
a.
A method to encapsulate AM fungal propagules around potato seeds
(tubers) with clay has been developed last year. This method showed some
risks for contaminations. Therefore an identical process is underway using
sterilized clays with microtubers and mycorrhizal propagules produced in
vitro.
b.
Techniques are under process to produce AM fungi on callus, rooted
callus and somatic embryos of potato. Hybrids formed by fusion of
protoplasts between a variety resistant to nematodes (S. vernii)
and non-resistant varieties (S. Phureja and S. tuberosum)
were obtained. Calli were initiated from this hybrid and successfully
inoculated in vitro with AM fungi. The same process will be
started on whole plant hybrids in vitro following the technique
developed by partner 1. The hybrid will be made available to the partners
of the project.
WP5: Development
of micro-scale composting systems, based on management of organic waste
from agro-industries, in collaboration with farmer associations
This activity is conducted by partners 4 and 5 with the
objectives to identify at the
local level and in close coordination with farmers associations
appropriate facilities in pilot sites, for the development of composting
systems, based on recycling of waste generated by urban agro-industries
and /or other organic waste sources (see WP1) and local post harvest
agro-waste generated in the fields of farmers associations.
Achievements :
a.
In Bolivia, all
necessary arrangements for the development of micro-scale composting
systems based on the management of organic waste from urban sources and/or
rural post-harvest residues, in collaboration with local municipalities
and farmer associations respectively, have already been made.
b.
In Ecuador, a
continuous micro-scale composting system has been initiated in Virgen de
la Nube (Province of Cañar) and Chaupiloma (Province of Pichicha).
The development within urban and peri-urban areas of a
micro-scale composting technology is fully underway. Several composting
experiments were started in Bolivia and Ecuador and numerous farmers
actively participate. A first product has been obtained in Ecuador and
favourably compared to a commercial product. The first assays on potato
are conducted in Ecuador and are planned in Bolivia
Following these results the activities conducted on bio-composting are underway. Therefore the deliverables scheduled here (to be started month 0 and to be delivered month 24) are on schedule.
- Development
of micro-scale composting technology (deliverable 8 )
- Development
of a compost conditioning system (deliverable 9)
WP5:
Development of micro-scale composting systems, based on management of
organic waste from agro-industries, in collaboration with farmer
associations
This activity
is conducted by partners 4 and 5 with the objectives to identify at the local level and in close coordination with farmers
associations appropriate facilities in pilot sites, for the development of
composting systems, based on recycling of waste generated by urban
agro-industries and /or other organic waste sources (see WP1) and local
post harvest agro-waste generated in the fields of farmers associations.
Achievements
:
a.
In Bolivia, micro-scale
composting production based on organic waste from urban sources (Kara kara
Unit) and/or rural post-harvest residues in combination with animal
manures, have been carried out in three sites (Lope Mendoza in Carrasco
Province, highlands in Tiraque province and Toralapa Experimental
Station), and field trials have been established for their evaluation with
farmers. Plant growth and tuber yield of different treatments will be
participatory evaluated with farmers.
WP6: Assessment
of impact of microbial inoculants, compost and microbial-coated potato product on potato based crop cultivation
practices and on abiotic and biotic stresses in controlled and field
conditions.
Will be started at the beginning of month 6.
However, in order to speed up the research activities :
a.
Potato varieties Solanum
tuberosum cv. Desiree, S.
phureja (CGN 18281) and S. phureja
(CGN 18315) have been obtained to use as model plants. These have been
introduced into in vitro tissue
culture.
b.
An experiment is set
up to investigate the mycorrhizal dependency of different potato
varieties.
c. Several assays are being conducted in in vitro conditions on the effect of Glomus intraradices on the growth and the development of potato plants.
The
study of the impact of microbial inoculants and bio-compost on potato
growth and alleviation of abiotic and biotic stresses have no deliverables
during year 1. However some activities were started.
In particular, the obtaining of an in vitro mycorrhizal
whole potato plants will allow reproducible, standardized interactions
studies with potato root pathogens and will allow investigation of the
mechanisms involved.
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- An
in vitro mycorrhizal whole plant culture model system has been
developed with different potato varieties. This system is the first
whole plant in vitro system on which AM fungi grow, develop and
produce thousands of spores. The model will be used to investigate
abiotic and biotic stresses.
- To
validate this system, two experiments were set up aimed (1) to
determine the infectivity of the AM fungi and relationship between
intra and extraradical mycelium
development and (2) to
determine the effectiveness of the system by testing the transport
capacity of radiolabelled phosphorus by the extraradical mycelium.
Once both infectivity and effectiveness of AM fungi in such system are
validated the system will be used to investigate various stresses
under strict controlled conditions.
- An
experiment was set up to investigate the mycorrhizal dependency of
seven potato varieties, both in vivo and in vitro.
Growth parameters, mineral content of shoots and tubers, and potato
production are under investigation. The objective is triple (1)
determine the effect of AM fungi on growth parameters, (2) sort out
the plant characteristics in vivo (essentially parameters of
root system such as weight, density and length of root hairs) which
may be responsible of the observed results (some parameters may be
used as predictive tools of potato variety dependency) and (3) to
investigate if some parameters of potato grown in vitro may
identically be used to predict dependency in vivo (this would
represent a fast bio-assay of variety dependency determined from
potato collections maintained in vitro).
- First
tests were conducted in vitro on the effects of Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. on
growth and protection of potato against Rhizoctonia solani.
- Trichoderma
and Pseudomonas isolates from Ecuador are in the process of
testing against potato root pathogens in Ecuador
WP7 : the diffusion within farmer field schools of trainings on bio-composting and micro-organisms management and the diffusion of the technology, cultural practices and product developed to farmers associations and NGO’s
The objectives of this WP are to provide guidelines and documents on the techniques and product developed to the end-users, (2) to provide and identify training capacities within agricultural colleges in order to develop a self-sufficient expertise, (3) to disseminate experiences and information generated by the project widely throughout the region and (4) to encourage local authorities (municipal entities, industries associations,…) to implement the actions taken during the project on a long-term basis. In this WP, farmers groups will be intimately associated to develop at the regional level micro-scale composting systems and microbial-coating potato technology.
No task nor deliverable are scheduled during year 1. However, some activities were conducted by partner 2 …
A website has been set up by partner 2 through the National University of Ireland, Cork’s website (www.ucc.ie/research/comminandes). The site contains the official name and project number as well as objectives of COMMINANDES, the list of participants and their chief contact e-mail addresses. The website also has a schedule of the meetings to be held between the partners. Partners using a project password can download reports regarding these meetings.
The diffusion of the technology developed has been started at three levels: (1) the development of a web site maintained at the following address: www.ucc.ie/research/comminandes. This site describe the activities of COMMINANDES and has also a restricted area for the consortium. To reach a broad audience, the pages have been translated into Spanish with the co-operation of all South American partners. The Spanish pages are available through a direct link from the homepage or accessed directly at URL: http://www.ucc.ie/research/comminandes/indexSpanish.htm. (2) the development of numerous contacts with various stakeholders (farmers associations, responsible of programmes on urban management in Latin America), and (3) diffusion through media (local radio, local newspapers, documents on composting process diffused to the end-users).
The diffusion within farmer field schools of trainings on bio-composting
and micro-organisms management and the diffusion of the technology,
cultural practices and product developed to farmers associations and
NGO’s
Although
to be started in month 40, partners attach large importance to communicate
information on the project.
The website set up by partner 2 in year 1 (www.ucc.ie/research/comminandes) has been improved in different ways. (1) new information regarding the project has been added, (2) translation to Spanish will continue in close collaboration with partner 4, (3) the website address of COMMINANDES will be added to the website of PROINPA to increase visibility in LA. (4) PROINPA will send to partner 2 all literature that PROINPA may use to disseminate COMMINANDES related information.
A discussion regarding online meeting is planned with a group list set up and hosted by partner 2. This will allow discussion to take place between partners and all comments will be delivered to partner’s individual mail address.