Complete genome sequence of Bacillus velezensis strain Ag109, a biocontrol agent against plant-parasitic nematodes and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

• Published in: BMC microbiology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 194 - 13
• Main Authors: Mian, Silas, Machado, Andressa Cristina Zamboni, Hoshino, Rodrigo Thibes, Mosela, Mirela, Higashi, Allan Yukio, Shimizu, Gabriel Danilo, Teixeira, Gustavo Manoel, Nogueira, Alison Fernando, Giacomin, Renata Mussoi, Ribeiro, Luriam Aparecida Brandão, Koltun, Alessandra, de Assis, Rafael, Gonçalves, Leandro Simões Azeredo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 07.06.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Analysis; Animals; Antibiosis; Antifungal activity; Ascomycota - genetics; Bacillus (Bacteria); Bacillus - genetics; Bacillus velezensis; Bacterial genetics; Biological control; Biological Control Agents; Biological products; Biosynthesis; Biotic factors; Brazil; Crop production; Cultivation; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diseases and pests; DNA; DNA sequencing; Ecosystem components; Fermentation; Fungi; Fungicides; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genome, Bacterial - genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Glycine max (L.) Merr; Glycine max - microbiology; Glycine max - parasitology; Grain cultivation; Gram-positive bacteria; Hybridization; Inoculation; International economic relations; Meloidogyne javanica; Metabolites; Microorganisms; Nematoda; Nematodes; Nucleotide sequence; Nucleotide sequencing; Nucleotides; Pathogens; Pest Control, Biological; Pests; Phylogeny; Physiological aspects; Plant diseases; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Diseases - parasitology; Plant Diseases - prevention & control; Plant growth; Potassium; Pratylenchus brachyurus; Reagents; Rhizoctonia - genetics; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Seeds; Soil microorganisms; Soil-borne diseases; Soybean; Soybean industry; Soybeans; Tylenchoidea; Whole Genome Sequencing; Yeast; Brazil; United States > US; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Glycine max (L.) Merr; Pratylenchus brachyurus; Biological control; Meloidogyne javanica
• ISSN: 1471-2180; 1471-2180
• DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03282-9

Soybean is the main oilseed cultivated worldwide. Even though Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of soybean, its production is severely limited by biotic factors. Soil borne diseases are the most damaging biotic stressors since they significantly reduce yield and are challenging to manage. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of a bacterial strain (Ag109) as a biocontrol agent for different soil pathogens (nematodes and fungi) of soybean. In addition, the genome of Ag109 was wholly sequenced and genes related to secondary metabolite production and plant growth promotion were mined. Ag109 showed nematode control in soybean and controlled 69 and 45% of the populations of Meloidogyne javanica and Pratylenchus brachyurus, respectively. Regarding antifungal activity, these strains showed activity against Macrophomia phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. For S. sclerotiorum, this strain increased the number of healthy plants and root dry mass compared to the control (with inoculation). Based on the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization, this strain was identified as Bacillus velezensis. Diverse clusters of specific genes related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis and root growth promotion were identified, highlighting the potential of this strain to be used as a multifunctional microbial inoculant that acts as a biological control agent while promoting plant growth in soybean.