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Control of Citrus Canker and Citrus Bacterial Spot with Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, alone or in combination with copper bactericides, were evaluated for managing Asiatic citrus canker and citrus bacterial spot incited by Xanthomonas axonopodis pathovars citri and citrumelo, respectively. In a set of five greenhouse experiments, phage treatment provided consistent control of citrus canker, causing an average of 59% reduction in disease severity. However, treatment with phage was ineffective if applied with skim milk, a protective formulation, which increases phage residual activity. In nursery settings, phage treatment also reduced disease but was less effective than copper-mancozeb, a chemical bactericide. The integration of phage and copper-mancozeb resulted in equal or less control than copper-mancozeb application alone. Phage treatments were evaluated in a commercial citrus nursery for reducing citrus bacterial spot caused by natural inoculum. Phage treatment provided significant disease reduction on moderately sensitive Valencia oranges in two trials (48 and 35%); however, on the highly susceptible grapefruit host it was ineffective. In an experimental citrus nursery, phage treatment provided significant control of citrus bacterial spot caused by a phage-sensitive strain, but was equally or less effective than copper-mancozeb. The combination of phage and copper-mancozeb did not increase control compared with copper-mancozeb alone.