HIGH-THROUGHPUT, MECHANISM-BASED SCREENING TECHNIQUES FOR DISCOVERINGNOVEL AGROCHEMICALS

A variety of screening strategies can be employed for discovering nove l agrochemicals such as fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and antip arasitics, Traditionally, random evaluation of chemical and natural pr oducts samples has been used in assay systems ranging from greenhouse testing down to in vitro microplate screening. This task can be formid able depending on the size of sample libraries and personnel resources available. One important tool in the overall discovery process is the application of highly specific and sensitive mechanism-based assays f or the purpose of identifying novel leads. This article describes high throughput, agar-based screening techniques successfully implemented in a decentralized screening environment where laboratory space and st affing are limited. Through the prudent use of automated and manual hi gh-density agar-based techniques, multiple sources of samples can now be processed and evaluated against multiple targets in a timely fashio n. Assay validation can be streamlined. The advantages and disadvantag es of an agar-based screening approach are discussed.