Isolation of Novel Xanthomonas Phages Infecting the Plant Pathogens X. translucens and X. campestris

• Main Authors: Arsova, B. (Author), Erdrich, S.H (Author), Frunzke, J. (Author), Schurr, U. (Author), Sharma, V. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: article; bacteriophage; biological pest control; genomics; lifestyle; new genus; nonhuman; phage biocontrol; phage genomics; phage isolation; phytopathogen; plant disease; Siphoviridae; transmission electron microscopy; Xanthomonas campestris; Xanthomonas translucens
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 The genus of Xanthomonas contains many well-known plant pathogens with the ability to infect some of the most important crop plants, thereby causing significant economic dam-age. Unfortunately, classical pest-control strategies are neither particularly efficient nor sustainable and we are, therefore, in demand of alternatives. Here, we present the isolation and characterization of seven novel phages infecting the plant-pathogenic species Xanthomonas translucens and Xanthomonas campestris. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that all phages show a siphovirion morphology. The analysis of genome sequences and plaque morphologies are in agreement with a lytic lifestyle of the phages making them suitable candidates for biocontrol. Moreover, three of the isolated phages form the new genus “Shirevirus”. All seven phages belong to four distinct clusters underpinning their phylogenetic diversity. Altogether, this study presents the first characterized isolates for the plant pathogen X. translucens and expands the number of available phages for plant biocontrol. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.