• Eco-Friendly and Safe: A cutting-edge technology that offers an environmentally responsible approach to control Pine Wilt Disease caused by Pine Wood Nematode, using aerial spraying of a Bacillus subtilis strain enhancing plant immunity. Safe for ecosystems, it provides a natural solution to an otherwise destructive issue.

• Cost-Effective for Large-Scale Use: At roughly one-sixth the cost of traditional nematicide trunk injections, this method is an affordable option for large-scale applications, delivering significant savings while protecting valuable pine forests.

• Long-Term Effectiveness: While the disease control efficacy (~65%) is lower than trunk injections (~90%), the solution’s power grows with repeated applications, providing lasting protection and progressively better results over time.

• Tree-Friendly Technology: Unlike trunk injections, which can harm trees through wounds made by repeated use, our technology does not cause any negative impacts on trees, ensuring no damage and promoting healthy growth, even with ongoing treatments.

Versatile Disease Control: In addition to Pine Wilt Disease, this technology effectively combats a broad range of plant diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and soil-borne fungi—diseases that are often difficult to be controlled by conventional chemical pesticides.

Flexible and Convenient Application: This versatile solution allows you to control various plant diseases including Pine Wilt Disease with ease. Its flexibility makes it an ideal choice for efficient, large-scale disease management across various agricultural and forestry applications.

Pine Wilt Disease, caused by Pine Wood Nematode, is a devastating issue for forests across multiple continents, including Japan, Korea, China, the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and Taiwan. Traditional control methods—such as aerial insecticide spraying, trunk injections of nematicides, and tree removal—present significant challenges. These include environmental pollution, harm to beneficial insects like bees, high labor costs, and difficulties in treating hard-to-reach areas.

In response to these challenges, a Korean startup has developed an innovative, eco-friendly technology that effectively combats Pine Wilt Disease through the aerial application of microorganism. This breakthrough solution strengthens plant immunity and provides long-lasting protection against the Pine Wood Nematode, while being safe for humans, animals, and the environment.

This technology uses a carefully selected strain of Bacillus subtilis, developed through rigorous screening and optimized fermentation and formulation processes. This beneficial microbe enhances tree resistance, effectively preventing Pine Wilt Disease and offering a safer alternative to chemical treatments.

Application Method

• Aerially sprayed twice at a 50-fold dilution, with 80 liters per hectare.
• Sprayed one month before the insect vectors’ active season, with a one-month interval between applications.

Proven Effectiveness

• Artificial Inoculation Trials: Achieved over 70% efficacy in preventing Pine Wilt Disease in 30-year-old Pinus densiflora.
• Field Tests in National Parks: Showed 70-80% control efficacy for Pinus densiflora and 50-60% for Pinus thunbergii.

This technology is protected by patents, and the unique fermentation and formulation processes are proprietary, ensuring a competitive edge in the market.

Broader Applications Beyond Pine Wilt Disease

This technology is not limited to pine trees. It offers effective control against a wide range of plant diseases caused by viral, bacterial, and soil-borne fungal infections that are difficult to be controlled with chemical pesticides. Moreover, it works synergistically with chemical fungicides to enhance overall disease control.

Proven Efficacy in Agricultural Applications

• Viral Diseases: Such as Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and Tobacco Mosaic Virus. In field trials with Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, the product enabled normal fruiting in peppers, while untreated plants produced no fruit.
• Bacterial Diseases: Including Tomato Bacterial Wilt, Cabbage Soft Rot, and Apple Fire Blight. Successful field trials in eggplant, tomato, and pepper crops showed effective control when used with complementary microbial pesticides.

Soil-Borne Fungal Diseases: Like Ginseng Root Rot and Cucumber Fusarium Wilt. Tests demonstrated improved soil health, increasing beneficial microorganism while reducing harmful ones.

The company is actively seeking strategic partnerships with foreign companies to introduce this product across Europe. They offer a unique opportunity to collaborate on efficacy testing for Pine Wilt Disease and other plant diseases, with the goal of product registration and market launch.

After successful efficacy evaluations, they plan to move forward with a business contract and product supply agreements, rather than licensing arrangements. This presents a significant business opportunity for European companies looking to expand into the growing market for eco-friendly and sustainable plant protection solutions.