We can test anything in consultation with the university and our teams. The focus of the foundation is currently mainly on the banana industry and the current disease pressure. As an example below, testing a product against TR4.

To test the efficacy of your products, we recommend to start in the lab (small & cost effective) and greenhouse, before testing in the field. This is to be sure the product has proven efficacy (for example) against the TR4 fungus and that it is still effective when the product is used in interaction with plant, fungus and soil. We advise the following sequence to test products with efficacy against TR4:

Standard Quick test
Plated assay, that will the show direct effect of the product against TR4 at various time points. This test is suitable for most products.

Full in-vitro test
Option to test different formulations and dosages or beyond the standard time points.

Greenhouse test
In case tests 1 or 2 have promising results, or based on test results provided by the customer, we proceed to test in greenhouse. Either pots with soil & fungus only (some products require this) or potted plants inoculated with TR4.

Field trials
Trial design: TR4 field trials can differ in size and focus, all dependent on customer wishes, product type and previous results. As we only work with natural TR4 infested soil, the design always includes multiple controls.

Examples of focus:
a) validate greenhouse results with natural infested field
b) dosage determination
c) optimal application & timing (effect when applying in different growing stages)
d) product registration trials

Possible size of the experiment:
a) from small size (minimum of 50 plants + control)
b) medium-, semi-commercial (1 to 10 hectare)
c) commercial size (10 to 25 hectare)

Test 1, 2 and 3 will be conducted at laboratory of Wageningen University and Research. The field trials in the Philippines are executed by the foundation.