Temperature dependence of the activity of a new bacteriophage against the causative agent of black rot of cabbage Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Vascular bacteriosis of cabbage caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris remains a significant threat to cabbage cultivation, especially in the context of stricter restrictions on the use of chemical plant protection products. The paper presents the results of characterization of the new Murka bacteriophage, which is active against 64.3% of the studied strains of the pathogen, including those circulating in Central Europe and Russia. Model experiments in a multi-channel bioreactor allowed us to determine the temperature dependence of the phage-bacterium interaction in the range of 15–45 °C. It was found that the greatest lytic activity and accumulation of phage particles are achieved at a culture temperature of 20–30 °C. This indicates the promising use of the Murka phage in various climatic zones. The phage showed resistance to chloroform, stability in the pH range of 6–10, and loss of activity at temperatures above 50 °C. Morphologically, Murka belongs to the genus Mioviruses, genetically to the genus Foxunavirus. The 43,277 bp long phage genome contains 83 ORF genes, of which 41 have a proposed function, and 42 are hypothetical proteins. Additional tests have shown that even with temperature fluctuations, the phage is able to effectively control bacterial growth. Special attention is paid to the possibility of using phage in the early stages of plant vegetation, for example, during pre-sowing seed treatment, when conditions contribute to maximum stability and effectiveness of phage therapy. In the future, it is planned to conduct in-planta tests in open ground conditions, which will determine the optimal regulations for the use and integration of phage use into a comprehensive cabbage protection system against vascular bacteriosis.

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