Isolation and characterization of three bacteriophages infecting Erwinia amylovora and their potential as biological control agent

Abstract Background Fire Blight, incited by Erwinia amylovora , is one of the most damaging pear and apple diseases in world. blight was introduced to Egypt 1960 threatens Egypt’s costs for industry. Currently, Phage therapy considered be secured biological method controlling plant bacterial diseases. This investigation aimed isolate identify molecularly bacteria causing fire bright disease. As well as isolation identification bacteriophages via spot plaque assay techniques from lesions soil. On other hand, were identified based on morphology, virion physical characters, profile DNA restriction protein. Results Pathogenicity test revealed that healthy seedlings fruits responsive E. . Considering relatively wide host range greatest protein genetic variability, using enzyme pattern, three diversity phage isolates named, EAP1, EAP2 EAP3 showed a lack out five fatherly characterized. The phages confirmed close relation Siphoviridae (hexagonal head long flexible non-contractile tail) Myoviridae (icosahedral contractile tail). retained higher lytic competence 90.4; 92.68 95.25% EAP3, respectively. stable at strong alkaline (pH 10) 2% salt solution conditions UV spectra. While hexagonal very short tail belongs family. Bacteriophages characterized digestion with endonucleases placed into groups patterns. 9 used reducing infection populations severity pear. In bioassay, biocontrol evaluated disks immature fruit. disk surface, exudate considerably suppressed all isolates. According measurements population still present could reduce it up 97%. reduced disease fruit trails. Conclusion results indicated bacteriophage may demonstrate variable reactivity against trials. E