Articles
BACTERIOPHAGE OF ERWINIA AMYLOVORA – HOST RANGE AND FIRE BLIGHT CONTROL POTENTIAL
Article number
1056_17
Pages
123 – 126
Language
English
Abstract
In search for an alternative to chemical control of fire blight, we isolated seven bacteriophages specific to E. amylovora. Three phages were isolated from water, three from symptomless pear leaves and one from apple leaves with characteristic fire blight symptoms.
Host-range studies showed that the phages differed in the ability to lyse 40 strains of E. amylovora isolated in Serbia.
Based on its lytic activity, phage ΦEa2 was chosen for further study of biological control potential in pear and apple blossom bioassays.
A phage suspension of 108 PFU/ml was applied on blossoms either 2 h before, 2 h after or at the same time of inoculation.
In three fully replicated bioassay experiments, application of host-specific phages 2 h before inoculation and at the time of inoculation significantly reduced fire blight symptom development compared to untreated control.
However, disease reduction was not significant when phages were applied 2 h after inoculation.
Host-range studies showed that the phages differed in the ability to lyse 40 strains of E. amylovora isolated in Serbia.
Based on its lytic activity, phage ΦEa2 was chosen for further study of biological control potential in pear and apple blossom bioassays.
A phage suspension of 108 PFU/ml was applied on blossoms either 2 h before, 2 h after or at the same time of inoculation.
In three fully replicated bioassay experiments, application of host-specific phages 2 h before inoculation and at the time of inoculation significantly reduced fire blight symptom development compared to untreated control.
However, disease reduction was not significant when phages were applied 2 h after inoculation.
Publication
Authors
K. Gasić, M. Ivanović, N. Kuzmanović, A. Prokić, A. Obradović, M. Sević
Keywords
bacteriophages, host range, fire blight, biological control
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