Bacteriophages for plant disease control
The use of phages for disease control is a fast expanding area of plant protection with great potential to replace the chemical control measures now prevalent. Phages can be used effectively as part of integrated disease management strategies. The relative ease of preparing phage treatments and low cost of production of these agents make them good candidates for widespread use in developing countries as well. However, the efficacy of phages, as is true of many biological control agents, depends greatly on prevailing environmental factors as well as on susceptibility of the target organism. Great care is necessary during development, production and application of phage treatments. In addition, constant monitoring for the emergence of resistant bacterial strains is essential. Phage-based disease control management is a dynamic process with a need for continuous adjustment of the phage preparation in order to effectively fight potentially adapting pathogenic bacteria. There are several potential advantages for using phages in disease control:
- Phages are self-replicating and self-limiting; they replicate only as long as the host bacterium is present in the environment, but are quickly degraded in its absence.
- Phages are natural components of the biosphere; they can readily be isolated from wherever bacteria are present, including soil, water, plants, animals, and the human body.
- Phages can be targeted against bacterial receptors that are essential for pathogenesis, so resistant mutants are attenuated in virulence.
- Phages are nontoxic to the eukaryotic cell. Thus they can be used in situations where chemical control is not allowed owing to legal regulations, such as for treatment of peach fruit before harvest or for control of human pathogens in fresh-cut produce.
- Phages are specific or highly discriminatory, eliminating only target bacteria without damaging other, possibly beneficial, members of the indigenous flora. Thus their use can also be coupled with the application of antagonistic bacteria for increased pressure on the pathogen; or they can be used to promote a desired strain against other members of the indigenous flora.
- Phage preparations are fairly easy and inexpensive to produce and can be stored at 4°C for months without significant reduction in titer. Application can be carried out with standard farm equipment. Since phages are not inhibited by the majority of agrochemicals, they can be tank-mixed with many agrochemicals without significant loss in titer.
Bacteriophages for plant disease control
Ann Rev Phytopathol 2007 45: 245-262
Related:
Tags: Agriculture, Bacteria, Biology, Environment, Microbiology, Science, Virology
Though late, we have ultimately become aware of this ‘pathogen’ as a potential therapeutic agent. We should have realized this much earlier as this was naturally expected.