The Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus offers consumers services for PCR diagnostics of pathogens of agricultural plants and individual selection of biological protection products under an outsourcing agreement.

Accurate identification of phytopathogenic microorganisms is necessary to develop an effective strategy for combating plant diseases, reducing yield losses of important agricultural crops, and ensuring the sustainable development of agroecosystems. Traditional methods of diagnosing phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, based on the study of morphological and physiological-biochemical features, are laborious, costly and often do not give unambiguous results. PCR analysis is a modern highly efficient, fast and accurate method for the diagnosis and species identification of phytopathogenic microorganisms.

The Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus offers services in diagnostics of plant pathogens by multiplex PCR and individual selection of biological protection products based on results of analysis.

PCR analysis allows detection and determination of bacterial and fungal pathogens of vegetable crops in vegetative and generative parts of plants, seeds, soil (root substrate), water.

PCR diagnostics is performed on a Determinant developed at the Institute, which has a wide range of functions:
* use of original genus- and species-specific primers;
* detection in the mode of standard PCR and PCR in real time;
* diagnostics of 2..4 pathogens in «one tube»;
* the duration of the analysis is no more than 2 days, which is several times faster than traditional phytopathological methods;
* recognition of bacterioses and mycoses in the early stages of the development of plant diseases;
* high specificity, sensitivity, analysis performance.

Diagnosis of a wide range of causative agents of diseases of vegetable crops:
* alternariosis or dry leaf spot - Alternaria sp.;
* ascochitosis or black stem rot - Didymella bryoniae (Stagonosporopsis cucurbitae);
* bacterial spotting - Pseudomonas syringae;
* bacterial cancer - Clavibacter michiganensis;
* white rot - Sclerotinia sclerotiorum;
* watery soft bacterial fruit rot - Pectobacterium carotovorum;
* cladosporiosis or brown olive spot - Cladosporium cladosporoides;
* root cancer - Agrobacterium tumefaciens;
* core necrosis or hollowness - Pseudomonas corrugata;
* leaf spot - Plectosphaerella cucumerina;
* gray rot - Botrytis cinerea;
* angular leaf spot - Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans (Pseudomonas amygdali pv. lachrymans);
* fusarium or wilting, tracheomycosis - Fusarium sp.;
* black bacterial spot - Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria.

Timely diagnosis of pathogens can reduce yield losses by 10..15%, as well as improve the quality of grown products.

Application area: crop production (for early diagnosis and accurate identification of pathogens of agricultural plants).

The information is posted in the "Album of Promising Developments of the NAS of Belarus Organizations for the Real Sector of the Economy" (2023), pp. 323-324. (in Russian)

The link to the "Identifier of Pathogens of Agricultural Plants" on the website of the Institute of Microbiology here.

You can read the advertising leaflet on diagnostics of pathogens of agricultural plants here.

The Determinant used for PCR diagnostics has no analogs in the Republic of Belarus, and in comparison with the best world analogs:
* has a wider range of detectable bacterial and fungal pathogens of vegetable crops;
* cost of analysis is 5..10% lower.

Provision of services for the diagnosis of phytopathogenic microorganisms on a contractual basis.

1. PCR diagnostics of fungi causing diseases of cucumber and tomato / A. A. Bareiko [et al.] // Microbial biotechnology: fundamental and applied aspects: collection of scientific papers. - Minsk, 2019. - Vol. 11. - Pp. 200-215. (in Russian)
2. Development of multiplex PCR assay for detection of bacterial and fungal pathogens causing diseases in tomato and cucumber / H. Bareika [et al.] // 8th Congr. of European Microbiologists (FEMS2019), Glasgow, United Kingdom, 7–11 July 2019. – Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2019. – P. 1170. (in Russian)
3. Optimization of the method of PCR diagnostics of pathogens of cucumber and tomato bacterial diseases / A. A. Bareiko [et al.] // Microbial biotechnology: fundamental and applied aspects: collection of scientific papers / In-t microbiol. NAS of Belarus; editorial board: E. I. Kolomiets [et al.]. – Minsk, 2020. – Vol. 12. – P. 144–159. (in Russian)

The Institute of Microbiology is the leading research center of the Republic of Belarus in the field of microbiology and biotechnology. The Institute's arsenal of innovative developments includes substances for medicines and diagnostics, biopreservatives, feed and food additives, biodisinfectants, probiotics, plant protection products, microbial fertilizers, wastewater and environmental treatment technologies that are in demand by the economy, and specific recommendations for combating biodamage.

In order to develop new technologies and pilot production of biopreparations for various purposes, ensuring the possibility of implementing original technologies for deep cultivation of producer microorganisms, isolating biologically active metabolites from the culture medium, creating competitive commercial forms of biopreparations for various purposes, the Laboratory of Fermentation Processes with pilot production was organized in 2017.

The Institute has developed, implemented and certified a quality management system for compliance with the requirements of STB ISO 9001-2015 (certificate of conformity No. BY 112 05.01.077 06883), ensuring:
- improvement of the Institute's management system;
- improving the quality and competitiveness of products and services;
- increasing consumer confidence in products and the stability of their quality;
- stimulating the entry of products into new and expansion of existing sales markets;
- improving the economic performance of the Institute;
- increasing the discipline and responsibility of employees;
- simplification of the procedure for obtaining certificates of compliance with technical regulations;
- gaining an advantage in tenders and competitions;
- increasing the level of trust on the part of representatives of supervisory authorities.

Products for legal entities and wholesale buyers are presented on the Institute's website here.

Products for private consumers (Online store) here.

The Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has been certified according to the quality management system for compliance with the requirements of STB ISO 9001-2015 (certificate of conformity No. BY 112 05.01.077 06883) since 2013.

Consumers interested in purchasing services for PCR diagnostics of pathogens of agricultural plants and individual selection of biological protection products under an outsourcing agreement.