March 30, 2023
Seneca News
Seneca partners with Evik to offer solutions for citrus crisis
Researchers are creating tests to diagnose a crop-killing disease
A research project currently underway at Seneca could help save the valuable U.S. citrus industry.
Fruits such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons are being threatened by a disease called Huanglongbing (HLB), which has been wreaking havoc for the last 20 years.
Frank Merante, Professor, School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry, is the Principal Investigator for the project, in partnership with Ottawa-based Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc. He is leading a research team tasked with creating tests to detect the disease.
HLB is a crop-killing disease spread by the Asian Citrus Psyllid, an insect that’s been in Florida since 1998, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). After the insect arrived, the disease was discovered in trees and started to spread through citrus groves. It has also affected crops in other citrus growing states. The U.S. citrus industry is worth more than US$3 billion a year and employs more than 16,000 people.
The idea behind this research was to develop a simple way for farmers to test crops and identify the problem quickly. The concept is similar to a do-it-yourself COVID-19 test. The research team is also working on a more sophisticated lab test that would provide farmers with detailed information.
“If successful, it would allow Evik to permeate the plant diagnostics market,” said Dr. Merante.
The challenge with HLB is that infected trees may not show any symptoms for months or years. Early detection could help farmers remove infected trees and prevent the spread, according to the USDA.
Evik specializes in diagnostic tests that can be done anywhere at room temperature. The company has focused on human disease for years and is now expanding into agriculture, said Vladimir Evtodienko, Evik’s CEO.
Having worked on a number of projects with Seneca over the years, Mr. Evtodienko was keen to partner with Seneca Innovation again.
“It’s been very useful,” Mr. Evtodienko said, adding he appreciates the industry perspective that Seneca brings to projects. “They’ve already given me some semi-final results, which are very impressive.”
Ehda Dolatabadi and Arshi Kazi, graduates from Seneca’s Biotechnology – Advanced diploma program, have been carrying out the research under Dr. Merante’s guidance.
“The project is fantastic,” Ms. Kazi said. “And it’s good to know that the things we’re doing in the lab can be commercialized one day.”
This is Ms. Dolatabadi’s fourth research project. She recently accepted a job as a research technologist at Sick Kids Research Institute.
“I’ve learned a lot and have been able to apply what I studied in a professional environment,” she said.
Dr. Merante said the research is a win-win situation for Seneca and companies such as Evik.
“I am optimistic the tests will be a success,” he said. “And maybe they could be used for other crops in the future.”