Phages enhance both phytopathogen density control and rhizosphere microbiome suppressiveness

dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Wang, Xiaofang
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Wang, Shuo
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Huang, Mingcong
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - He, Yilin
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Guo, Saisai
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Yang, Keming
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Wang, Ningqi
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Sun, Tianyu
dc.contributor.affiliationChina Tobacco - Yang, Hongwu
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Yang, Tianjie
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Xu, Yangchun
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Shen, Qirong
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Friman, Ville-Petri
dc.contributor.affiliationNanjing Agricultural University - Wei, Zhong
dc.contributor.authorWang, Xiaofang
dc.contributor.authorWang, Shuo
dc.contributor.authorHuang, Mingcong
dc.contributor.authorHe, Yilin
dc.contributor.authorGuo, Saisai
dc.contributor.authorYang, Keming
dc.contributor.authorWang, Ningqi
dc.contributor.authorSun, Tianyu
dc.contributor.authorYang, Hongwu
dc.contributor.authorYang, Tianjie
dc.contributor.authorXu, Yangchun
dc.contributor.authorShen, Qirong
dc.contributor.authorFriman, Ville-Petri
dc.contributor.authorWei, Zhong
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-24T15:23:30Z
dc.date.issued2024-05-09
dc.date.issued2024-05-09
dc.descriptionBacteriophages, viruses that specifically target plant pathogenic bacteria, have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional agrochemicals. However, it remains unclear how phages should be applied to achieve efficient pathogen biocontrol, and to what extent their efficacy is shaped by indirect interactions with the resident microbiota. Here we tested if the phage biocontrol efficacy of Ralstonia solanacearum phytopathogenic bacterium can be improved by increasing the phage cocktail application frequency, and if the phage efficacy is affected by pathogen-suppressing bacteria already present in the rhizosphere. We find that increasing phage application frequency improves R. solanacearum density control, leading to a clear reduction in bacterial wilt disease in both greenhouse and field experiments with tomatoes. The high phage application frequency also increased the diversity of resident rhizosphere microbiota and enriched several bacterial taxa that were associated with the reduction in pathogen densities. Interestingly, these taxa often belonged to Actinobacteria known for antibiotics production and soil suppressiveness. To test if they could have had secondary effects on R. solanacearum biocontrol, we isolated Actinobacteria from Nocardia and Streptomyces genera and tested their suppressiveness to the pathogen in vitro and in planta. We found that these taxa could clearly inhibit R. solanacearum growth and constrain bacterial wilt disease, especially when combined with the phage cocktail. Together, our findings unravel an undiscovered benefit of phage therapy, where phages trigger a second line of defense by the pathogen-suppressing bacteria that already exist in resident microbial communities.
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dz08kps40
dc.identifier.urihttps://hydatakatalogi-test-24.it.helsinki.fi/handle/123456789/11210
dc.rightsOpen
dc.rights.licensecc-zero
dc.subjectBacterial wilt disease
dc.subjectPhage biocontrol
dc.subjectrhizosphere microbiome
dc.subjectRalstonia solanacearum
dc.subjectsoil suppressiveness
dc.titlePhages enhance both phytopathogen density control and rhizosphere microbiome suppressiveness
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