Plant-associated microbiota as a source of antagonistic bacteria against the phytopathogen Erwinia amylovora.

Control of bacterial plant diseases is a major concern, as they affect economically important species and spread easily, such as the case of fire blight of rosaceous caused by Erwinia amylovora. In the search for alternatives to the use of agrochemicals and antibiotics, this work presents a screening of natural bacterial antagonists of this relevant and devastating phytopathogen. We recovered bacterial isolates from different plant tissues and geographical origins and then selected those with the strongest ability to reduce fire blight symptoms ex vivo and remarkable in vitro antagonistic activity against E. amylovora. None of them elicited a hypersensitivity reaction in tobacco leaves, mos…