P-125 - Leveraging strawberry-associated microbes for fungal disease protection

Strawberries are Flanders’ most important berry crop. However, the cultivation is often hampered by the occurrence of numerous pests and diseases, most of which are still controlled by chemical plant protection products. The SynBioS project aims to develop synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) to control strawberry fungal diseases. The SynComs will be designed to mimic the functions and structure of the phyllosphere microbiota of healthy plants and preserve the essential microbe–host interactions. To achieve this, samples of leaves, flowers and fruits were taken from different cultivation systems. Using deep amplicon sequencing, we have defined the members, diversity, and richness of the microbiota from the different samples, followed by the determination of the core microbiome. A culture collection of this core microbiome is being established, with a focus on fungi and yeasts. For some of them, we have already shown that they inhibit Botrytis cinerea. The whole collection will be assessed for antimicrobial activity against B. cinerea and Podosphaera aphanis, plant growth promoting traits, and responses to environmental factors. In addition, we will perform whole genome sequencing to fully characterize the potential of these microorganisms. Knowledge on these characteristics will allow us to select a specific set of microorganisms that are persistent in field conditions, that do not outcompete each other and that strengthen plant health through their biocontrol potential.