Endophytic Strain 26DCryChS Producing Cry1Ia Toxin from Promotes Multifaceted Potato Defense against (Mont.) de Bary and Pest Say.

Novel properties of a previously obtained 26DCryChS strain are described. The 26DCryChS strain is able to produce Cry1Ia δ-endotoxin from B-5351 and to exist in internal plant tissues of potato plants in the same manner as the endophytic 26D source strain (487 ± 53 and 420 ± 63 CFU*10/g, respectively). 26DCryChS, as much as the original 26D strain, inhibited mycelium growth of oomycete (Mont.) de Bary and reduced late blight symptoms development on plants by 35% compared with non-treated ones, as well as showed insecticidal activity against . Production of the fluorescent GFP protein in the 26D genome allowed visualizing the endophytes around damaged sites on beetle intestines. strains under investigation induced systemic resistance to and through the activation of the transcription of PR genes in potato plants. Thus, the 26DCryChS strain was able to induce transcription of jasmonate-dependent genes and acquired the ability to promote transcription of a salicylate-dependent gene (PR1) in plants infected with the late blight agent and damaged by Colorado potato beetle larvae. The 26DCryChS strain could be put forward as a modern approach for biocontrol agents design.