Abstract
Pectobacterium carotovorum is an economically important phytopathogen and has been identified as the major causative agent of bacterial soft rot in carrots. Control of this phytopathogen is vital to minimizing carrot harvest losses. As fully efficient control measures to successfully avoid the disease are unavailable, the phage-mediated biocontrol of the pathogen has recently gained scientific attention. In this study, we present a comprehensive characterization of the P. carotovorum phage vB_PcaM_P7_Pc (abbreviated as P7_Pc) that was isolated from infected carrot samples with characteristic soft rot symptoms, which were obtained from storage facilities at market places in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. P7_Pc is a myovirus, and it exhibits growth characteristics of an exclusively lytic life cycle. It showed visible lysis against four of the tested P. carotovorum strains and one Pectobacterium aroidearum strain. This phage also showed a longer latent period (125 min) than other related phages; however, this did not affect its high phage titter (>10(10) PFU/mL). The final assembled genome of P7_Pc is 147,299 bp in length with a G+C content of 50.34%. Of the 298 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) of the genome of P7_Pc, putative functions were assigned to 53 ORFs. Seven tRNA-coding genes were predicted in the genome, while the genome lacked any major genes coding for lysogeny-related products, confirming its virulent nature. The P7_Pc genome shares 96.12% and 95.74% average nucleotide identities with Cronobacter phages CR8 and PBES02, respectively. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses of the genome revealed that P7_Pc clusters well within the clade with the members representing the genus Certrevirus. Currently, there are only 4 characterized Pectobacterium phages (P. atrosepticum phages phiTE and CB7 and Pectobacterium phages DU_PP_I and DU_PP_IV) that are classified under the genus, making the phage P7_Pc the first reported member of the genus isolated using the host bacterium P. carotovorum. The results of this study provide a detailed characterization of the phage P7_Pc, enabling its careful classification into the genus Certrevirus. The knowledge gathered on the phage based on the shared biology of the genus will further aid in the future selection of phage P7_Pc as a biocontrol agent. IMPORTANCE Bacterial soft rot disease, caused by Pectobacterium spp., can lead to significant losses in carrot yields. As current control measures involving the use of chemicals or antibiotics are not recommended in many countries, bacteriophage-mediated biocontrol strategies are being explored for the successful control of these phytopathogens. The successful implementation of such biocontrol strategies relies heavily upon the proper understanding of the growth characteristics and genomic properties of the phage. Further, the selection of taxonomically different phages for the formulation of phage cocktails in biocontrol applications is critical to combat potential bacterial resistance development. This study was conducted to carefully characterize and resolve the phylogenetic placement of the P. carotovorum phage vB_PcaM_P7_Pc by using its biological and genomic properties. Phage P7_Pc has a myovirus morphotype with an exclusively lytic life cycle, and the absence of genes related to lysogeny, toxin production, and antibiotic resistance in its genome confirmed its suitability to be used in environmental applications. Furthermore, P7_Pc is classified under the genus Certrevirus, making it the first reported phage of the genus of the host species, P. carotovorum.