title: Biocontrol of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum using bacteriophage PP1.
abstract: Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (formerly Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora) is a plant pathogen that causes soft rot and stem rot diseases in several crops, including Chinese cabbage, potato, and tomato. To control this bacterium, we isolated a bacteriophage, PP1, with lytic activity against P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the PP1 phage belongs to the Podoviridae family of the order Caudovirales, which exhibit icosahedral heads and short non-contractile tails. PP1 phage showed high specificity for P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, and several bacteria belonging to different species and phyla were resistant to PP1. This phage showed rapid and strong lytic activity against its host bacteria in liquid medium and was stable over a broad range of pH values. Disease caused by P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum was significantly reduced by PP1 treatment. Overall, PP1 bacteriophage effectively controls P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbial Safety, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Samnyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.forename: Dong Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eunjung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Kyusuk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Changsik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sunggi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heu
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016973:Pectobacterium carotovorum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000821:virology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017902:Podoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology