Improving low water activity and desiccation tolerance of the biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 by osmotic treatments

AIMS: To study the improvement of tolerance to low water activity (aw) and desiccation during spray drying in Pantoea agglomerans cells subjected to mild osmotic stress during growth. METHODS AND RESULTS: The micro-organism was cultured in an unmodified liquid (control) or in aw-modified media, and viability of these cells was evaluated on unstressed (0.995) and 0.96 aw stressed solid media, in order to check total viability and aw stress tolerance respectively. Significant improvements in viability on unmodified medium were observed with cells grown for 24 h in NaCl 0.98 aw, glycerol 0.98 aw and 0.97 aw and for 48 h in NaCl 0.98 aw and 0.97 aw modified media. Both yield improvements and water stress tolerance were achieved with low aw media. Cells grown for 24 h in NaCl 0.98 aw or for 48 h in NaCl 0.98 aw, 0.97 aw and 0.96 aw, glucose 0.97 aw and glycerol 0.97 aw showed improved aw stress tolerance in comparison with control cells. The best results were obtained with NaCl treatments (0.98 aw and 0.97 aw) which also exhibited better survival rates than control cells during spray-drying process and maintained their efficacy against postharvest fungal pathogens in apples and oranges. CONCLUSIONS: NaCl treatments are very appropriate for improving P. agglomerans low aw tolerance obtaining high production levels and maintaining biocontrol efficacy. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Improving stress tolerance of biocontrol agents could be an efficient way to obtain consistency and maintain efficacy of biological control under practical conditions.