Towards efficient biocontrol of bacterioses of tomato: novel bacteriophages and their action in controlled conditions and production greenhouses

Abstract: Bacterial diseases are responsible for major losses in tomato production and are
particularly difficult to manage in covered cultivation systems. On the way of developing a
functional biocontrol solution against bacterial diseases for greenhouse-cultivated tomatoes, we have optimized a pipeline of bacteriophage isolation and application, and now investigate the tripartite interactions between phages, bacteria and plants using the model system based on greenhouse-cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, varieties “Stupicke polni” and
“Sweetelle”), bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 and Pseudomonas phage
Eir4. We have developed a formulation and application pipeline, allowing for over 80 %
reduction of pathogenic bacteria load in tomato tissues, and decrease in the symptoms of
bacterial spot. Notably, no negative impact on abundance of beneficial microorganisms was
detected. Combining the advanced imaging, genomics, and plant phenotyping we aim to shed
light on the mechanisms of phages action in planta, thus opening their use as efficient
customizable biocontrol for sustainable agriculture.