Formulation of a bacterial biocontrol agent to control several potato pathogens and diseases – SaveTuber

Background and Objectives: The SaveTuber project will develop different formulations of a new biocontrol agent and evaluate their efficacy against several pathogens and diseases of potato, a crop in orphan use. The French network for production of potato seed tubers is the second largest exporter in the world. The biocontrol agent Pseudomonas PA14H7 targets Dickeya and Pectobacterium pathogens that are responsible for two bacterial diseases (blackleg and soft rot). In 2021, these pathogens were responsible for 37% of rejection in the certification process of seed tubers in France. Pseudomonas PA14H7 targets other pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophtora infestans against which phytopharmaceutical products are used. Previous work has allowed the identification and characterization of the targets of Pseudomonas PA14H7 (TRL1 to TRL3), the trials for evaluating protection efficiency in the greenhouse condition (TRL4) and in the field (TRL5). The objective of the SaveTuber project is to overcome an obstacle that will allow us to move from TRL6 to TRL8: the large-scale production of the biocontrol agent and its formulation. These two steps are essential for qualification of the biocontrol agent under real conditions. The target pathogens of this biocontrol agent show a wide host spectrum: an evaluation of this formulation could be envisaged later on other crops.
Approach and methodology: The SaveTuber project (36 months) is divided into 5 actions: (1) the production and (2) formulation of the biocontrol agent will be handled by Yphen, a company specialized in the formulation of biological agents; (3) the development of tools for monitoring the biocontrol agent in situ will be done by the academic partner (I2BC); (4) the protection trials in experimental plots (TRL6 to TRL7) and then (5) with volunteer growers (TRL8) will be coordinated by the potato plant chain partner (FN3PT/inov3PT) and the academic partner (I2BC). This project will mobilize about ten people including one engineer on a 3-year fixed-term contract financed by the ANR who will prepare and monitor the qualification trials of the biocontrol agent (actions 3, 4 and 5).
End user: The first user is the certified seed tubers producer in France, but also in Europe where similar damage is reported. In France, for the year 2021, losses caused by the pathogens Dickeya and Pectobacterium, which are associated with the rejection and downgrading of seed tubers, have been estimated at about 6 M euros. A reduction of these losses is expected with the use of the proposed biocontrol agent. The proposed solution could be tested further for the protection on other productions that are affected by these pathogens: beet, carrot, endive, tomato.
Relevance and sustainability of the solution: The development of this biocontrol agent is conducted in synergy with other control approaches including prophylaxis and varietal creation. This new use represents an important transition effort for the potato seed tuber growers. A gain is also expected, and will be evaluated in this project, with the other targets Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophtora infestans, which are currently controlled with pharmaceutical products. Thus, this project will contribute to reduce the overall environmental impact of treatments against several pathogens.
Consortium: The consortium associates the PdT plant sector (FN3PT/inov3PT), an academic actor (I2BC, Université Paris Saclay-CEA-CNRS) with an expertise in plant-pathogen interactions and Yphen, a company specialized in the production and formulation of biological agents. Their complementary expertise will enable the production and evaluation of a new crop protection tool for potato plants.