ABBAonFire – An innovative treatment approach based on natural tailocins for fire blight control in organic pome fruit orchards

ABBA (Apple, Bee, Bacteria, Antagonists) onFire (Fire Blight) is a three-year internal consortium project at the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), in which six JKI institutes are involved. In this project, an innovative treatment approach based on natural tailocin-producing bacteria is being investigated to combat the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora in organic pome fruit cultivation. In addition to effectiveness, the project also assesses potential impacts on non-target organisms and the environment. The project aims to verify the benefits of microbial genomic mining, through a proof-of-concept using the pathogen Erwinia amylovora. The objective is to search for natural antagonists against this plant pathogenic bacterium in organic farming and thus to develop a practical, specific control concept. The overall aim of the project is to develop an approach that can also be transferred to other harmful bacteria and be used for prophylactic treatments in organic farming.