Rosemary
, that unmistakable aromatic plant common in the culinary world, is also an excellent protector for crops against pathogen attacks, as shown by research conducted by a team from Conicet led by María Rosa Marano at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario (IBR, CONICET-UNR).These results led the group to form an international consortium with countries from the European Union (EU) and the Irish company BioAtlantis. This consortium has a funding of one million euros until 2027, provided by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Program (MSCA-Staff Exchange) of the European Commission.
CropPrime, as this alliance has been named, aims to develop a commercial product based on a synergistic blend of natural compounds, providing an non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative.
Natural factories of compounds
Knowledge about the properties of plants like rosemary for the treatment or prevention of diseases has been transmitted in various cultures since ancient times, becoming the basis for much of traditional medicine. Over fifty thousand plant-derived compounds exhibiting a wide range of biological activities have been identified.
But why do plants generate this diversity of substances? Unlike animals, plants have a secondary metabolism that allows them to produce and accumulate compounds of diverse chemical nature.
These secondary metabolites are important for the survival of plants, as they play a fundamental role in adapting to environmental stress and in defense against predators and pathogens.
The species Salvia rosmarinus, as rosemary is known in the scientific field, has gained importance in research due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant attributes.
A vaccine for plants
Marano explains that when they started this line of research, they chose to first work on diseases caused by viruses in plants, “because there is no chemical agent to prevent viral spread in crops.”
Using the tobacco necrosis virus (TVNA) as a model, Marano points out: “We found a significant effect of rosemary extract application on viral disease development, reducing symptoms.” They were able to verify that this effect is different from the antimicrobial action described in animal cells or against human pathogens.
In plants, rosemary has a protective effect that enhances plant defense response in times of stress. According to García, “it acts as a kind of vaccine.” Working with other pathogens and plants, they demonstrated that the protection is also effective against diseases caused by bacteria in citrus or fungi in soybeans, suggesting an extended action independent of the pathogen and plant.
CropPrime: a network of exchange
The objective of these European Union initiatives is to address specific issues through consortia with a common goal. “In this case, it would be to seek alternatives to the use of agrochemicals by generating new formulations based on different natural extracts to protect crops from biotic and abiotic stress,” García explains. Additionally, it is necessary for the various working groups to be in developing countries and to include a private company.
CropPrime is composed of laboratories from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belgium, and South Africa, joining the one led by Marano at the IBR and the biotechnological development company BioAtlantis, based in Ireland.
The MSCA-Staff Exchange is part of Horizon Europe, the EU funding program for research and innovation, and focuses on the exchange of training experiences among project members. Two years into the project, ten people have traveled and stayed in another consortium member’s laboratory.
García considers generating this networking crucial. He highlights the “community spirit” of scientific activity and affirms that it is through connection with others that progress can be made faster. “One must be willing to diversify, give space, and be receptive to enrichment,” he concludes.
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