Genomics and metabolomics assisted functional characterization of Bacillus velezensis D83 as a biocontrol and plant growth-promoting bacterium

Abstract

D83 has a broad-spectrum inhibitory effect on eight plant pathogenic fungi. D83 also demonstrated the properties of a variety of plant-promoting bacteria. Under in vitro conditions, D83 has the ability to promote the germination of maize and tobacco seeds, and in pot experiments, D83 has the ability to promote the growth of maize and tobacco seedlings and suggests that promotion is more pronounced than that of sterile water treatment (CK) and commercially available microbial preparations treatment (A). The gene cluster responsible for the production of the antimicrobial metabolites fengycin, surfactin, bacilysin, butirosin A/B, bacillaene, difficidin, macrolactin, surfactin, and bacilysin was identified in the D83 genome by genome prediction analysis. The genes responsible for fengycin, iturin, and surfactin biosynthesis were identified by D83 amplicon analysis. Furthermore, LC/MS analysis of D83 fermented extracts confirmed the presence of antifungal metabolites and plant growth substances.