Significance of Bacillus thuringiensis Lytic Bacteriophages in Soil

Abstract

Under conditions favouring spore germination and growth of B. thuringiensis in soils inhabited by TV-1 and TV-2 bacteriophages, propagation of the phages commences within three hours of incubation with the host bacterium. Phage TV-1 attains levels higher than 1 million pfu/g soil within 48 hr, about 5-fold higher level than that noticed for TV-2 bacteriophage. Consequently, B. thuringiensis spores added to soil may considerably diminish in numbers with time, contrary to other results obtained for phage-free soils.