Microbial Interaction and Applications of Beneficial Microbes

It is forecasted that the world population will reach 10 billion people by 2050. Overpopulation, climate instability and plant pest and diseases are directly responsible for increasing global hunger. It is estimated that more than 60% of the human population is starving and plant diseases play a major role in food shortages worldwide. Global loss of staple crops due to plant pathogens is predictably estimated to be as high as even 40 percent. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important staple food crops worldwide and the fourth main food crop after rice, maize and wheat. The area of potato cultivation is rapidly increasing especially in developing regions. In Europe potato has always been recognized as an significant food crop. Intensive potato cultivation together with the international potato tuber market may result in the increased risk of transmission and spread of potato diseases that lead to decrease of crop quality and yield. Diseases caused by pectinolytic bacteria: blackleg during potato cultivation and soft rot of potato tubers in storage and transit are among the most important bacterial diseases leading to substantial losses in potato production in Europe and worldwide. Traditional pathogen control methods based on chemical and physical applications are insufficient to cure infected potato tubers from pectinolytic bacteria as well as they are unable to prevent spread of the pathogens in the field. Biological (environmentally friendly) control of plant pathogens could be an alternative to chemical and physical approaches. We are eager to develop new biological control strategies based on the use of beneficial bacteria and bacteriophages in order to prevent buildup of the pathogen populations in potato tubers. This presentation acknowledges past and present work on biological control of potatopathogens – pectinolytic bacteria, with the major focus on research leading to commercialization.