Novel in vivo use of a polyvalent Streptomyces phage to disinfest Streptomyces scabies‐infected seed potatoes

A highly virulent and polyvalent Streptomyces phage was isolated from a potato field near Albany, Western Australia. The efficacy of the isolated phage to disinfest seed potato tubers artificially inoculated with a common scab‐causing streptomycete was evaluated. The phage suspension was prepared in a mini‐bioreactor. Diseased potatoes were bathed in a phage suspension (1 × 109 plaque‐forming units per mL) for 24 h. The suspension was constantly circulated within a novel 25 L phage bath by means of an air‐sparging pipe driven from an air compressor. Phage‐treated scab‐affected seed potatoes planted into free‐draining polystyrene boxes containing steam‐pasteurized field soil produced tuber progeny with significantly (P