A "vaccine" for black rot – biocontrol of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris on autochthonous cabbage cultivar Futoški using plant-associated beneficial bacteria
About project
Project title:
A "vaccine" for black rot – biocontrol of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris on autochthonous cabbage cultivar Futoški using plant-associated beneficial bacteria
Acronym:
XanthoSTOP
Financier:
Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
Budget:
149,506.89 EUR
Project duration:
2024-2026
Project coordinator:
University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, IMSI
Партнери на пројекту:
N/A
Project leader for IMSI:
Aleksandra Jelušić,
Research Associate
Project website:
Social media:
Location:
Department for Life Sciences, University of
Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary
Research
Keywords:
black rot, Futoški cabbage, biological control, sustainable agriculture
Research Associate
Telephone:
E-Mail:
Website:
Linkage to the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Project description
Plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, causal agent of black rot disease, significantly reduces the growth, yield and quality of cabbage and other Brassicaceae crops (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, collard greens, etc.). This disease leads to major economic losses in Serbia and worldwide. Traditionally, chemical pesticides have been the primary method of disease control, but their overuse poses serious risks to the environment and human health. The XanthoSTOP project aims to provide an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides: a bio-bactericide, based on naturally occurring beneficial bacteria. Project goal is to harness beneficial properties of plant-associated bacteria isolated from the autochthonous cabbage cultivar Futoški to suppress black rot. The project leverages the ecological strategy of indigenous bacterial strains that can naturally resist pathogens occupying the same ecological niche. To achieve this, potential biocontrol candidates will be selected from a collection of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. strains isolated from the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of cabbage cv. Futoški, sampled from plants with and without visible black rot symptoms. Cabbage cv. Futoški was selected as a plant model system because it is a product protected by geographical indication, highly valued for its unique taste and quality, which arise from the distinctive soil and climate conditions of Futog, a cabbage-growing region with a tradition dating back to the 18th century. Preserving its quality, along with the associated ecosystem (microbes, insects, soil, etc.) is therefore of critical importance. By promoting sustainable agriculture, XanthoSTOP contributes to the production of safe, high-quality food and a healthier environment. Intensifying the use of biocontrol products in crop protection will promote sustainable agriculture, support human health, ensure environmental safety, and improve the quality of agricultural products.
Data:
During the implementation of the XanthoSTOP project, different types of experimental data will be collected. Information on isolates of the plant pathogenic bacterium X. campestris pv. campestris and biocontrol strains isolated from different cabbage fields will be stored in worksheets containing precise strain labels, species affiliation, GPS coordinates, and date of isolation. Black rot symptoms observed in the fields, as well as in vitro and in vivo biocontrol experiments, will be carefully documented through extensive photographic records. DNA sequences of pathogenic and biocontrol strains, as well as metabarcoding data, will be deposited in the publicly available database (National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI). All generated data, including graphs, photos, and tables, will undergo statistical analysis and will be stored in dedicated worksheets and folders with appropriate names for better organization and easy retrieval. All scientific publications related to the project will be stored and made available to the general public in the institutional repository (RIMSI) and on the official project website. All data will be saved on the work computers of the PI and work package leaders, as well as on the project’s Google Drive platform accessible to all project members.
Results:
Publications in international conferences:
- Jelušić. A., Marković, S., Milić Komić, S., Živanović, B., Mitrović, P. Sedlarević Zorić, A., Bartolić, D., Popović Milovanović, T. In vitro biocontrol potential of indigenous Bacillus velezensis strains in suppressing black rot disease in cabbage cv. Futoški. FEMS MICRO Milan 2025, 14-17 July, Milan, Italy, p. 1041.
https://rimsi.imsi.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3631
- Živanović, B., Milić Komić, S., Marković, S., Mitrović, P., Popović Milovanović, T., Mutavdžić, D., Sedlarević Zorić, A., Jelušić, A. 2025. Evaluating biocontrol potential of Bacillus velezensis against Xanthomonas campestris campestris on cabbage cv. Futoški under greenhouse conditions. FEMS MICRO Milan 2025, 14-17 July, Milan, Italy, p. 725.
https://rimsi.imsi.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3632
- Živanović, B., Milić Komić S., Jelušić, A., Bartolić, D., Sedlarević Zorić, A., Marković, S., Mitrović, P., Popović Milovanović, T., Veljović Jovanović, S. 2024. The response of the antioxidant system of cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata L.) to infection with Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in combination with drought stress. 5th International Conference on Plant Biology, 03-05 October, Srebrno jezero, Serbia, PP2-40, p. 84.
https://rimsi.imsi.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3315
- Milić Komić S., Živanović, B., Popović Milovanović, T., Šušiš, N., Bartolić, D., Sedlarević Zorić, A., Marković, S., Mitrović, P., Veljović Jovanović, S., Jelušić, A. 2024. Differential physiological response of cabbage autochthonous cultivar Futoški to infection with Xanthomonas campestris campestris. 5th International Conference on Plant Biology, 03-05 October, Srebrno jezero, Serbia, PP2-9, p. 53.
Project team
During the implementation of the XanthoSTOP project, different types of experimental data will be collected. Information on isolates of the plant pathogenic bacterium X. campestris pv. campestris and biocontrol strains isolated from different cabbage fields will be stored in worksheets containing precise strain labels, species affiliation, GPS coordinates, and date of isolation. Black rot symptoms observed in the fields, as well as in vitro and in vivo biocontrol experiments, will be carefully documented through extensive photographic records. DNA sequences of pathogenic and biocontrol strains, as well as metabarcoding data, will be deposited in the publicly available database (National Center for Biotechnology Information – NCBI). All generated data, including graphs, photos, and tables, will undergo statistical analysis and will be stored in dedicated worksheets and folders with appropriate names for better organization and easy retrieval. All scientific publications related to the project will be stored and made available to the general public in the institutional repository (RIMSI) and on the official project website. All data will be saved on the work computers of the PI and work package leaders, as well as on the project’s Google Drive platform accessible to all project members.
- Project leader (PI): Aleksandra Jelušić, Research Associate, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research
- Team:
- Sonja Milić Komić, Senior Research Associate, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research
- Bojana Živanović, Research Associate, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research
- Sanja Marković, Research Associate, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research
- Dragana Bartolić, Research Associate, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research
- Teodora Draganov, Research Assistant, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research
- Nataša Stanojević, Research Trainee, University of Belgrade – Institute for Multidisciplinary Research