Biocontrol of Bacterial Pathogens in Strawberry Through Prospection and Genomics of Native Mexican Bacteriophages
Collaboration with Dr. Jimena Carrillo Tripp (CICESE) and Dr. Ma. del Carmen Orozco Mosqueda (Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya)
Funded by SECIHTI Convocatoria de Ciencia de Frontera 2026
Strawberry cultivation represents a critical agricultural pillar in Mexico, yet it faces severe threats from bacterial pathogens that impair fruit production and harvest safety, triggering potential quarantines that restrict export markets. These sporadic outbreaks of bacterial diseases are exacerbated by climate change and the emergence of strains resistant to traditional copper-based treatments. To address this challenge, our project proposes a sustainable agroecological biocontrol strategy centered on native lytic bacteriophages to mitigate disease incidence and ensure crop safety. We will isolate bacterial pathogens and entropic contaminants from strawberry fields across Baja California, Guanajuato, and Michoacán, utilizing these strains to recover specific environmental viruses from plants, agricultural effluents, and soils. Through genomic characterization, cross-screening, and directed evolution, we will adapt phages to infect resistant bacterial variants and expand their host range. Ultimately, we will design and validate multi-phage cocktails both in vitro and in vivo on strawberry plants and harvested fruits to deliver an innovative biological alternative that safeguards plant health and fruit quality while supporting national sovereignty.
