Fungi4BioControl – Moldovan-German project implemented by the Institute of Zoology

In the Laboratory of Systematics and Molecular Phylogeny of the Institute of Zoology, Moldova State University, the project 25.80013.7007.02GER "Entomopathogenic Fungi and Antagonists for the Biological Control of Insect Pests and Plant Diseases" – Fungi4BioControl is in full swing. The project is funded as result of the successful participation in the competition "Measures to promote bilateral mobility between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Moldova based on projects - ProMoMo", launched by the National Agency for Research and Development.

The partner of the Institute of Zoology of MSU in this project is the Technical University of Darmstadt, Laboratory of Insect-Associated Microorganisms and Microbial Control, part of the Department of Biology, project coordinator – Dr. Andreas Leclerque.

The main goal of the project is to connect the independent, but complementary research activities of the partners from the Republic of Moldova and Germany in a synergistic way, generating a well-characterized collection of fungal strains, as a starting point for the joint development of biopesticides. The project objectives include:
•    facilitating scientific mobility and connecting scientific activities carried out by partner institutions; 
•    evaluating the entomopathogenic and antagonistic potential of selected fungal strains isolated in the Republic of Moldova; 
•    molecular-genetic characterization of selected strains and implementation of molecular-genetic diagnostic tools. 

The project will last one year, the main expectation being the strengthening of the existing bilateral cooperation relationship between partners from the Republic of Moldova and Germany and facilitating its expansion into a multilateral international network.

Dr. Anna Moldovan, project coordinator