Biological control agents against fire blight
View Patent ↗Described herein are biopesticides having activity against Erwinia species, particularly against the fire blight phytopathogen Erwinia amylovora . The biopesticides comprise intact or vegetative cells, endospores, spores, and/or metabolites from one or more bacterial species or strains as active ingredients, wherein the vegetative cells, endospores, spores, and/or metabolites exhibit antimicrobial activity against phytopathogenic Erwinia species or Erwinia amylovora.
1. A method for treating fire blight or other phytopathogenic Erwinia species in plants, the method comprising contacting the plant with a biopesticide comprising as an active ingredient intact or vegetative cells of a Pantoea agglomerans strain comprising a genomic sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14 and plasmid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 15 to 18, wherein the intact or vegetative cells are formulated with glycerol and/or an agriculturally-suitable salt as a preservative.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopesticide comprises phenazine produced by said Pantoea agglomerans strain.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopesticide comprises D-alanylgriseoluteic acid (AGA) produced by said Pantoea agglomerans strain.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Pantoea agglomerans strain expresses the transmembrane protein EhpJ.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopesticide comprises an agriculturally acceptable excipient, additive, and/or a further preservative.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopesticide is formulated as a liquid, concentrate, powder, tablet, gel, pellets, granules, or any combination thereof.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agriculturally-suitable salt is NaCl.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the NaCl is present in said biopesticide in a concentration of about 4% w/w.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glycerol is present in said biopesticide in a concentration of about 0.5% w/w.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopesticide completely kills E. amylovora strain S435, streptomycin-resistant E. amylovora strain S153, and/or streptomycin-resistant E. amylovora strain S1605, when co-cultivated together in vitro.
11. A method for treating fire blight or other phytopathogenic Erwinia species in plants, the method comprising contacting the plant with a biopesticide comprising: intact or vegetative cells of a Pantoea agglomerans strain comprising a genomic sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14 and plasmid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 15 to 18, as an active ingredient; about 0.5% glycerol w/w; and about 4% NaCl, wherein the biopesticide completely kills E. amylovora strain S435, streptomycin-resistant E. amylovora strain S153, and/or streptomycin-resistant E. amylovora strain S1605, when co-cultivated together in vitro.