Viability of ΦD5 on the surface of potato tubers in time.

<p>Phage concentration was adjusted to 10³ pfu ml^-1 in sterile Ringer’s buffer. Ten ml of phage suspension was sprayed on the surface of each tuber. For control, instead of bacteriophage suspension, sterile Ringer’s buffer was used. Tuber samples were collected at T0 (0 days), T1 (7 days), T2 (14 days), T3 (21 days) and T4 (28 days) and assayed for phage presence.</p

Viability of ΦD5 on the surface of potato leaves.

<p>Leaf samples were collected at T0 (0 days), T1 (7 days), T2 (14 days), T3 (21 days) and T4 (28 days) and assayed for phage presence.</p

Viability of ΦD5 in potting compost.

<p>Compost samples were collected at T0 (0 days), T1 (7 days), T2 (14 days), T3 (21 days) and T4 (28 days) and assayed for the phage presence.</p

Effect of the presence of ΦD5 at 14 days on culture tube-grown plants in a growth chamber and inoculated with <i>D</i>. <i>solani</i> IPO2254.

<p>The results are presented in terms of (a) percentage of plants showing symptoms and (b) number of bacteria in stems (n = 20 plants per treatment), (c) a representative image of culture tube-grown potato plants showing disease symptoms. Values followed by identical characters are not significantly different (P = 0.005).</p

Effect of copper on ΦD5 viability.

<p>At 0, 24, 48 and 72 h ΦD5 titers were calculated using a soft top agar assay with <i>D</i>. <i>solani</i> IPO2254 as the host. The assay was repeated independently once with the same setup and the results were averaged.</p

Effect of rain water on ΦD5 viability.

<p>At 0, 24, 48 and 72 h ΦD5 titers were calculated using a soft top agar assay with <i>D</i>. <i>solani</i> IPO2254 as the host. The assay was repeated independently once with the same setup and the results were averaged.</p

Effect of potato tuber extract on ΦD5 viability.

<p>At 0, 24, 48 and 72 h ΦD5 titers were calculated using a soft top agar assay with <i>D</i>. <i>solani</i> IPO2254 as the host. The assay was repeated independently once with the same setup and the results were averaged.</p

Effect of the presence of ΦD5 at 21 days on plants grown in pots in a growth chamber and inoculated with GFP-tagged <i>D</i>. <i>solani</i> IPO2254.

<p>The results are presented in terms of (a) percentage of plants showing blackleg symptoms and (b) number of bacteria in stems (n = 15 plants per treatment), (c) a representative image of pot-grown potato plants showing disease symptoms. Values followed by identical characters are not significantly different (P = 0.005).</p