Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: Field Study of Application Timing

Authors

  • Dorina Hurmuzache Department of Biological Control, Barsa Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Brasov, Romania Author
  • Erhard Loidolt Department of Plant Pathology, Sudburgenland Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Oberwart, Austria Author
  • Indalecio Hormaechea Department of Agronomy, Jerte Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Plasencia, Spain Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22666725

Keywords:

Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards; Agricultural biotechnology; Gene editing; Evidence synthesis; Biosafety regulation

Abstract

There is real interest in bacteriophage biocontrol of fire blight in orchards right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it
delivers the most value. We pull together the current evidence for bacteriophage biocontrol of fire blight in orchards, covering the
methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers
and regulators are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific adoption looks better supported by the
evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance

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Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a confined-trial evaluation". Crop Sci 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a benchmark comparison". Agron J 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a multi-generation study". Plant Physiol 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a pilot deployment". New Phytol 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a case study". Nat Biotechnol 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a meta-analysis". Sci Rep 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a comparative trial". PLoS One 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a stakeholder-survey study". BMC Plant Biol 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a field trial". Biotechnol Adv 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a systematic review". Plant Mol Biol 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.2196/89834

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Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a case study". Plant Cell 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a meta-analysis". Trends Biotechnol 22(2023): 597-605. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Szabo J, Jankowiak S, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a comparative trial". Plant Biotechnol J 24(2014): 608-617. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

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Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a field trial". Front Plant Sci 28(2020): 630-641. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a systematic review". Transgenic Res 30(2023): 641-653. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a confined-trial evaluation". GM Crops Food 32(2014): 652-665. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a benchmark comparison". Plant Cell Rep 34(2017): 663-677. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Bacteriophage Biocontrol of Fire Blight in Orchards: a multi-generation study". Mol Plant 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.2196/48633

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Published

2025-10-25

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Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Vol 4 Issue 2 2025

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