An investigation of soil bacteriophages associated with positive and poor crop outcome

There is an increasing awareness that the microbial composition of soil can impact the productivity of crop plants. Bacteria have key roles in increasing the ability of plants to take up nutrients and to combat pathogenic bacteria. One component of the microbial community that has been significantly understudied in soil microbiomes is that of bacteriophages (phages) which are likely to control bacterial diversity, abundance and biology.
This project will determine the composition on phages associated with potato crops which are important for the UK and wider European and global economy. Potatoes are the UK's largest vegetable category, producing 5-6 million tonnes p.a., valued at approximately £1.1bn. Bacterial pathogens of potatoes in particular are responsible for substantial losses through disease, leading to damage and failure to meet market specifications. Of particular importance to the UK and wider European industry, especially for high grade seed production is blackleg (caused mainly by Pectobacterium bacteria, as well as Dickeya spp.); responsible for at least £50M UK total losses p.a. and £750M worldwide. In addition to losses in the seed-potato industry, there are significant downstream losses from tuber soft rot across the wider potato-industry sectors. The pathogen originates in seed potato tubers but additional sources of contamination include the soil, as well as the wider environment (irrigation water, nearby-infected plants, with bacteria carried by aerosols, insects etc.). There are no effective treatments available for the industry against these pathogens.
APS already designed an effective phage cocktail to target Pectobacterium and this project will work to further optimise the cocktail and answer fundamental questions about the mechanisms behind its efficacy.