Bacteriophages as a Strategy to Protect Potato Tubers against and Soft Rot.

The protective effect of bacteriophage suspensions (Ds3CZ + Ds20CZ and PcCB7V + PcCB251) on phytopathogenic bacteria causing soft rot of potato tubers, namely Dickeya dianthicola (D50, D200) and Pectobacterium carotovorum (P87, P224), was observed in ex vivo and in vitro experiments. Ex vivo tests were performed (with air access) on potato slices, on cylindrical cuts from the center of the tubers, and directly in whole potato tubers. In vitro experiments were carried out in a liquid medium using RTS-8 bioreactors, where bacterial growth was monitored as optical density.