Viability, Stability and Biocontrol Activity <i>in Planta</i> of Specific <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> Bacteriophages after Their Conservation Prior to Commercialization and Use
2022
Belén Álvarez | Laura Gadea-Pallás | Alejandro Rodríguez | Begonya Vicedo | Àngela Figàs-Segura | Elena G. Biosca
<i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> is a pathogen that causes bacterial wilt producing severe damage in staple solanaceous crops. Traditional control has low efficacy and/or environmental impact. Recently, the bases of a new biotechnological method by lytic bacteriophages vRsoP-WF2, vRsoP-WM2 and vRsoP-WR2 with specific activity against <i>R. solanacearum</i> were established. However, some aspects remain unknown, such as the survival and maintenance of the lytic activity after submission to a preservation method as the lyophilization. To this end, viability and stability of lyophilized vRsoP-WF2, vRsoP-WM2 and vRsoP-WR2 and their capacity for bacterial wilt biocontrol have been determined against one pathogenic Spanish reference strain of <i>R. solanacearum</i> in susceptible tomato plants in different conditions and making use of various cryoprotectants. The assays carried out have shown satisfactory results with respect to the viability and stability of the bacteriophages after the lyophilization process, maintaining high titers throughout the experimental period, and with respect to the capacity of the bacteriophages for the biological control of bacterial wilt, controlling this disease in more than 50% of the plants. The results offer good prospects for the use of lyophilization as a conservation method for the lytic bacteriophages of <i>R. solanacearum</i> in view of their commercialization as biocontrol agents.
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