TY  - CONF
AU  - Erdrich, Sebastian
AU  - Sharma, Swati
AU  - Keilhammer, Mirco
AU  - Schurr, Ulrich
AU  - Grossmann
AU  - Frunzke, Julia
AU  - Arsova, Borjana
TI  - Bacteriophage-based biocontrol in Arabidopsis
M1  - FZJ-2026-00375
PY  - 2025
AB  - Transmission of microbial diseases via seeds is a significant concern in agriculture and can lead to considerable yield loss. Some estimates predict that the usage of contaminated seeds can lead to yield reductions ranging from 15% to 90% (Vishunavat et al., 2023). Bacteriophages as specialized viruses of bacteria could, in this context, offer a promising basis for developing targeted and sustainable biocontrol strategies.Our work starts with de novo phage isolation against five prominent plant bacterial pathogens followed by phage characterization (Erdrich et al., 2022 Viruses). Furthermore, we investigated the tripartite interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana, the bacterial plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, and the lytic phage Seregon. Using parallel transcriptomic profiling, we characterized host and pathogen responses during infection and phage treatment. We can show that phage application reduces the burden on plant immunity through suppression of bacterial virulence (Erdrich et al., 2025 BioRxiv). Finally, with an aim to application we asked the question of phage binding onto seeds. Using a simple immersion method, phages coated onto seeds successfully lysed bacteria post air-drying. The seed coat mucilage (SCM), a polysaccharide–polymer matrix exuded by seeds, plays a critical role in phage binding (Erdrich et al 2024., Microb Biotechnol). These findings highlight phage- based interventions as promising, sustainable strategies for combating pathogen resistance and improving crop yield.
T2  - Institiute seminar
CY  - , Julius Kuhn Institute, Braunschweig (Germany)
M2  - Julius Kuhn Institute, Braunschweig, Germany
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)31
DO  - DOI:10.34734/FZJ-2026-00375
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1050623
ER  -