RejuAgro A: A novel antimicrobial for fire blight control of pome fruits and beyond

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora , severely impacts global apple and pear production. Current control measures rely heavily on conventional antibiotics like streptomycin, oxytetracycline, and kasugamycin, which raise concerns regarding resistance development and environmental impacts. This research introduces RejuAgro A (RAA), a novel antimicrobial produced by Pseudomonas soli 0617-T307, showing potent activity against E. amylovora , including streptomycin-resistant strains. RAA demonstrated efficacy comparable to streptomycin in greenhouse and field trials, effectively reducing fire blight incidence. Furthermore, RAA displayed broad-spectrum activity against diverse plant bacterial and fungal pathogens. The RAA biosynthesis gene cluster in P. soli was identified, revealing key genes essential for its production. RAA presents a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, potentially enhancing sustainable apple and pear production and addressing antibiotic resistance concerns.