Controlling Soft Rot Disease of Potatoes Caused by Enterobacter cloacae sub sp. dissolvens via Virulent Bacteriophages

Abstract

Enterobacter cloaca causes bacterial soft rot disease of potatoes. Bacteriophages can be used as a biocontrol agent against pathogenic bacteria. The possibility of using lytic phage isolates to control soft rot disease of potato was studied.Isolation and identification of different virulent bacteriophages specific to Enterobacter cloacae sub sp. dissolvens was took place by using biological and molecular techniques. The efficiency of lytic phage isolates on E. cloacae sub sp. dissolvens as a biocontrol agent under greenhouse condition was evaluated.The two virulent phage isolates specific to E. cloacae sub sp. dissolvens were isolated, identified and designated as EdIv-1 and EdIv-2. Mixture of the two virulent phages (EdIv-1 and EdIv-2) could be used as a bio control agent against E. cloacae sub sp. dissolvens in soil. The data indicated that the number of bacterium in the soil treated with this treatment as a cocktail of phages were considerably lower than in the soil treated with bacterium only in all the different periods and other treatments. In addition the highest percentage of decreased plants was recorded after 30 days (71%). Virulent phage isolates were found to be stable, infecting E. cloacae sub sp. dissolvens. It could be concluded that cocktail of phages can be used as effective biological control agent against the plant pathogen under the environmental condition in Egypt.

Ecofriendly System Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Delivery of Chitosan to Control Soft Rot Disease and Maintain Postharvest Quality of Tuber Potato

“…et al, 2022) & Ent. Cloacae (Eman, et al, 2020) postharvest is considered the main causal agent of soft rot illness in potatoes and a wide diversity of vegetables & crops (Surman, 2011). It exists on the surface of tubers and penetrates through wounds or natural openings throughout transport and storage.…”