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PubMed2026

Isolation and genomic characterization of Bacillus X32: a potent phosphate-solubilizing bacterium with growth-promoting effects on navel orange seedlings.

Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth. However, in nature, most phosphorus exists in the form of insoluble compounds that plants cannot directly absorb, leading to phosphorus deficiency in agricultural systems. With increasing demand for economic crops such as citrus and the decline in soil fertility due to current management practices, there is a growing need for environmentally friendly fertilizers to improve and restore soil conditions. In this study, a highly efficient phosphate‑solubilizing strain X32 was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Gannan navel oranges. Systematic genomic analysis identified it as a putative novel species within the genus Bacillus, showing the closest phylogenetic relationship to Bacillus spizizenii. However, both the average nucleotide identity (ANI = 93.18%) and digital DNA‑DNA hybridization (dDDH = 50.4%) values fell below the established thresholds for species delineation, indicating significant genomic differentiation. Whole‑genome sequencing further revealed that strain X32 harbors multiple functional genes potentially related to phosphorus metabolism, including inorganic phosphate‑solubilizing genes (e.g., gdh and gltA), phosphate transport genes (e.g., glpT, pstA, pstB, pstC), and phosphorus mineralization genes (e.g., phoA, phoD). Pot experiment results demonstrated that inoculation with strain X32 significantly promoted the growth of navel orange seedlings, as evidenced by marked increases in both aboveground and belowground fresh and dry weights, as well as plant height. Additionally, strain X32 significantly enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD) and regulated the content of chlorophyll b in seedling leaves, these changes suggest that strain X32 may enhance stress resistance in plants and influence photosynthetic pigment composition, though direct measurements of photosynthetic performance are needed for confirmation. This study provides a theoretical basis for developing microbial fertilizers with efficient phosphorus solubilization and plant growth-promoting functions, which may help reduce dependence on phosphorus fertilizers and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Phosphates↗
PubMed2026

Whole-genome sequencing and characterization of Pseudomonas stutzeri P1 endophyte isolated from potato unveils plant growth-promoting and other traits.

Endophytic bacteria play an important role in plant growth promotion and stress tolerance, offering sustainable alternatives to chemical inputs in agriculture. In this study, an endophytic bacterial strain P1 was isolated and identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri, a plant-associated bacterium exhibiting multiple plant growth-promoting traits (PGPTs). Biochemical (qualitative and quantitative) and in vitro analyses demonstrated nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, biofilm formation, and tolerance to abiotic stresses, including salinity and drought. Furthermore, the P1 strain displayed strong biocontrol activity against the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini, indicating its potential to mitigate biotic stress. Whole-genome sequencing generated a high-quality complete genome of 4,758,235 bp. Functional annotation showed enrichment of metabolic pathways associated with plant-microbe interactions and environmental adaptation. Further analyses using KEGG and PGPT-pred data confirmed the presence of genes associated with direct and indirect PGPT, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, biofilm formation, and stress tolerance. The genome also contained genes related to CAZymes, adhesion, and motility, highlighting a strong plant association, whereas the genome lacked major virulence factors and antimicrobial traits, supporting the non-pathogenic nature of the P1 strain. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of P1 as a promising bioinoculant candidate for sustainable agriculture in the potato sector.

PGPT-associated genes↗
PubMed2026

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus as a plant growth-promoting endophyte: mechanistic insights and translational prospects for sustainable agriculture.

With the growing interest in sustainable agriculture, there has been a surge in exploration of multitrophic interactions between plants and microbes that can help plants adapt to changing environments and enhance their resilience to climate changes. One such beneficial microbe is Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, an aerobic, nitrogen-fixing endophyte currently being studied because of its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen within plant tissues under aerobic conditions. This endophyte also promotes plant growth through processes like phytohormone production, nutrient solubilization, and improved stress tolerance of the plant. Recent advances in genomics and systems biology have provided valuable insights into the metabolism, interactions, and functions of this microorganism inside the host plants and its contribution to rhizosphere and endosphere dynamics. Despite considerable advances in understanding this organism, there are still limitations to its application due to its poor field performance, environmental variations, and difficulties in formulation production. This review consolidates the current knowledge on the ecology, physiology, and molecular mechanisms of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, critically assesses its limitations, and identifies future research priorities to enhance its translational potential.

Gluconacetobacter↗
PubMed2026

The identification of growth-promoting lncRNAs in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCSCC) is an aggressive tumor that develops within the mouth of patients. Tumor-suppressor gene loss and genomic arrangements fuel tumorigenesis and transcriptional reprogramming. Understanding how these alterations contribute to OCSCC growth and cell survival may identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities or biomarkers. We profiled the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the growth of three OCSCC cell lines using a CRISPRi-screen and identified 19 lncRNAs that contribute to OCSCC proliferation. By comparing these lncRNAs to other screens, we find that these lncRNAs are uniquely required in OCSCC and not other malignancies. We show that these lncRNAs are abundantly expressed in OCSCC cells and tumors. Independent testing of candidate lncRNAs confirms their role in supporting OCSCC growth. Our results show that a novel subset of lncRNAs are required for the growth of OCSCC cancer cells and that these lncRNAs are cell lineage specific.

CRISPRi↗
PubMed2026

Distinct cell morphotypes of Aureobasidium melanogenum ZN exhibit differential functional profiles in promoting maize growth.

Black yeast-like fungi of the genus Aureobasidium exhibit morphological plasticity, but whether distinct cellular states within the same genetic background are associated with different plant growth-promoting functions remains unclear. Here, yeast-like cells (YL), swollen cells (SC), and chlamydospores (CH) of Aureobasidium melanogenum ZN were characterized. YL was associated mainly with siderophore production and laccase activity, SC with extracellular polysaccharide accumulation, and CH with phosphate mobilization and higher ammonia and IAA production. Whole-genome and comparative genomic analyses revealed a shared repertoire related to nutrient acquisition, auxin-associated metabolism, extracellular oxidation, and carbohydrate remodeling, with expansions in nutrient- and cell-surface-related gene families. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed distinct deployment of these capacities, with CH exhibiting broad reprogramming of tryptophan-associated, nitrogen, phosphate, central-carbon, and amino-acid metabolism. In maize, CH at the optimal inoculation concentration of 105 CFU·mL-1 produced the strongest growth promotion, increasing plant height, dry biomass, root length, root surface area, and root volume by 58.6%, 365.1%, 191.0%, 194.3%, and 222.4%, respectively. Consistent with this pronounced growth phenotype, maize root transcriptomics showed coordinated CH-induced responses involving root development, nutrient transport, redox regulation, and root-interface remodeling. Root-zone tracking showed greater short-term stability and persistence of CH. These findings identify cellular state as an important functional dimension of Aureobasidium-plant interactions and provide a basis for developing fungal inoculants with defined beneficial cellular states.

Zea mays↗
PubMed2026

Decoding microbial metabolic complementarity from individual traits to community structuring.

A fundamental challenge in microbiome research lies in elucidating the functional capacity of microbial communities through community membership and genomic data. As community structuring and emergent functional traits are determined by bacterial community metabolic networks, it is important to gain insights into the principles that govern bacteria-bacteria interactions. Here, we applied an integrative framework linking individual strain-level traits to community structuring in a simplified synthetic bacterial community (SSC8) that promotes the growth of ungrafted watermelon. By combining mono- and coculture assays with genome-scale metabolic modeling and metabolomic profiling of spent media, we characterized directional interactions and resource dependencies among community members. Our findings show that positive interactions dominated the community network, accounting for 55% of all pairwise combinations, indicating a high prevalence of growth-promoting effects among strains. Genome-scale metabolic modeling showed that functional divergence among strains enhanced the potential for metabolic complementarity as phylogenetic distance increased. Integrating metabolic modeling with metabolomics further suggested that Pseudomonas azotifigens Q6 not only benefited from all other community members, but also exhibited mutualistic interactions with the other three strains, with metabolite exchange involving compounds such as L-lysine and L-cysteine. Pseudomonas azotifigens Q6 acted as an important driver of community composition by affecting the abundance of several other consortium members in vitro. These findings highlight the role of metabolic complementarity in driving community structuring by promoting selective persistence of specific strains. Our work provides mechanistic insights into microbial interaction networks in vitro and offers a conceptual foundation for the rational design of functionally robust and plant-beneficial microbiomes.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2026

Plant-derived and microbial biostimulants in sustainable agriculture: mechanisms, applications, and challenges.

Plant biostimulants have emerged as transformative and sustainable tools for improving crop productivity, resource-use efficiency, and resilience under rapidly intensifying environmental stresses. Unlike conventional agrochemicals, biostimulants function by activating physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes that optimize plant performance without directly supplying nutrients or exerting pesticidal effects. This review comprehensively examines the integrated roles of plant-derived and microbial biostimulants in sustainable agriculture, with particular emphasis on microbial-mediated mechanisms underlying plant stress adaptation and rhizosphere functioning. Plant-derived biostimulants, including seaweed extracts, humic substances, protein hydrolysates, amino acids, and chitosan, enhance nutrient acquisition, root architecture, hormonal regulation, and antioxidant defense systems. More importantly, microbial biostimulants, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), endophytic microorganisms, mycorrhizal fungi, actinomycetes, yeasts, and cyanobacteria, exert multifunctional effects through biological nitrogen fixation, mineral solubilization, phytohormone biosynthesis, volatile signaling, osmolyte accumulation, pathogen suppression, and modulation of stress-responsive genes. These beneficial microorganisms reshape rhizosphere microbial communities, improve nutrient cycling, and enhance plant tolerance to drought, salinity, heat, and heavy metal toxicity. Emerging evidence from genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and microbiome-based investigations has further revealed the molecular networks and signaling pathways governing biostimulant-induced resilience and plant-microbe interactions. Despite their substantial promise, inconsistent field performance, formulation instability, regulatory limitations, and inadequate mechanistic understanding continue to restrict their large-scale adoption. This review highlights recent advances in microbial and plant-derived biostimulants while identifying critical knowledge gaps and future opportunities for precision biostimulant engineering, microbiome manipulation, and climate-resilient crop management. The integration of next generation biostimulant technologies into sustainable agricultural systems may significantly reduce dependence on agrochemicals while improving crop productivity, environmental sustainability, and global food security.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2026

PGPR inoculation and growth enhancement of crops cultivated in hydroponic systems.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are ubiquitous rhizosphere microorganisms that promote plant health through various mechanisms. Although the study of PGPR inoculants in soil has been done for ages, their application in hydroponic systems has received relatively limited attention. This review identifies PGPR inoculants that are commonly used in hydroponics, methods of application, and their effects on plant growth and nutrient use efficiency. Literature shows that PGPR inoculants improve plant performance in controlled hydroponic systems through the production of growth-stimulating substances, nitrogen fixation, and improved nutrient acquisition. However, the plant growth responses are highly variable depending on the composition of nutrient solutions, environmental factors, crop and microbe species, and the type of hydroponic system. The review identifies various challenges of PGPR inoculation in hydroponic systems and future research directions to address the current gaps. Generally, the productivity of hydroponic systems can be enhanced through advanced inoculation strategies and the development of suitable carrier materials to improve inoculant survival, viability, and functions. Emphasis should also be placed on designing system-specific microbial consortia and Synthetic communities that are tailored to the unique ecological conditions of hydroponic systems.

Hydroponics↗
PubMed2026

Sea urchin co-culture boosts abalone growth by reducing environmental stress and remodeling gut microbiota.

Biofouling and microenvironmental deterioration are major bottlenecks restricting the intensive aquaculture of Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). While co-culturing offers an eco-friendly mitigation strategy, the underlying mechanisms promoting abalone growth remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the growth performance of H. d. hannai co-cultured with varying densities of the sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus intermedius). By employing transcriptome and 16S rRNA sequencing of the abalone gut, we investigated the synergistic responses of host gene expression and gut microbiota. Compared with the monoculture group, the co-culture groups showed significantly less biofouling and greater growth of abalone, with the co-culture (n = 15) exhibiting the best outcomes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1444, 760, and 508 DEGs in G5, G10, and G15, respectively, compared with G0. These DEGs were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and sterol metabolism, indicating a shift in intestinal energy metabolism from stress defense toward growth under co-culture conditions. Gut microbiota profiling identified Proteobacteria and Firmicutes as the dominant phyla, with specific functional taxa (e.g., Psychrilyobacter and Akkermansia) enriched in a density-dependent manner. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated that growth traits positively correlated with growth-promoting taxa (e.g., the unclassified AB1 lineage), but negatively correlated with potentially opportunistic taxa (e.g., Tabrizicola). These findings provide insights into a potential synergistic mechanism of "environmental stress alleviation-metabolic reprogramming-microecological remodeling" driving abalone growth, providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing co-culture systems and developing growth-associated biomarkers.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Desert-derived Ensifer sp. SA403 enhances potato salt tolerance by reshaping rhizosphere microbiome functions and host responses.

Soil salinization increasingly threatens global food security, and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a moderately salt-sensitive crop, is particularly vulnerable to saline soils. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer a promising strategy to improve crop performance, yet how PGPR interact with native microorganisms to enhance potato salt tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a desert-derived PGPR strain, Ensifer sp. SA403, which substantially enhanced potato performance under high salinity across sterile, non-sterile and field conditions. Physiologically, inoculation with SA403 reduced shoot Na⁺ accumulation and increased the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio; notably, these effects were markedly stronger in non-sterile substrates than under sterile conditions, indicating that SA403-mediated ion homeostasis relies on cooperation with the resident microbiota rather than on the strain acting alone. Metagenomic profiling indicated that SA403 strain reshaped rhizosphere communities, significantly enriching beneficial taxa such as Priestia and Bradyrhizobium, and upregulated functional pathways involved in glutathione and sulfur metabolism. Furthermore, host transcriptomic analyses showed that SA403 modulated plant responses to salt stress, with differentially expressed genes enriched in jasmonic acid signaling, ethanolamine metabolism and amino-acid biosynthesis pathways. Field trials on saline soils confirmed that SA403 significantly increased seedling emergence and tuber weight. Together, our results demonstrate that SA403 functions as a biological mediator that optimizes rhizosphere microecology and coordinates ion balance and host signaling to enhance potato salt tolerance. These findings support the potential of SA403 as a robust PGPR-based tool for sustainable potato production on saline soils.

Rhizosphere↗
PubMed2026

Long-term saline-alkaline selection rewires the growth-survival trade-off in Priestia megaterium.

Saline-alkaline soils impose persistent osmotic, ionic, pH, and nutrient stress on soil microorganisms, but the evolutionary routes by which beneficial bacteria adapt to such conditions remain poorly resolved. We performed adaptive laboratory evolution to examine the adaption of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Priestia megaterium HA22 to long-term oligotrophic saline-alkaline selection. After 175 serial transfers, the evolved lineage proliferated stably at 40 g L-1 Na2SO4 at pH 10.0, whereas the wild-type strain failed to proliferate. Genome resequencing and allelic replacement revealed a 5-bp insertion in spo0A, the master sporulation regulator, as a major adaptive mutation. This mutation abolished sporulation; shortened the lag phase; and enhanced vegetative growth, nutrient uptake, and expression of tricarboxylic acid cycle and nitrogen metabolism gene under saline-alkaline stress. According to untargeted metabolomics, adaptation was accompanied by increased amino acid metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, with proline, isoleucine and pantothenic acid functionally promoting growth. A point mutation in ugpB enhanced glycerol-3-phosphate uptake, increased peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid levels, and partially rescued the survival cost of the spo0A mutation. In greenhouse assays under combined saline-alkaline stress, the evolved strain increased soybean shoot dry weight and root dry weight by 56.08% and 27.02%, respectively. These results indicate that prolonged, predictable saline-alkaline selection can favor active growth rather than dormancy when compensatory cell envelope reinforcement buffers survival costs.

Adaptive laboratory evolution↗
PubMed2026

Bacterial motility in rhizosphere colonization: mechanisms, constraints, and implications for microbial inoculants.

Although the potential of microbial inoculants for sustainable agriculture and environmental restoration has been widely recognized, their field performance remains highly variable and often unpredictable. Current research and development frameworks for microbial inoculants primarily focus on their plant growth-promoting functions and metabolic traits, often overlooking the ecological processes that determine whether introduced strains can successfully disperse, access, and establish within the rhizosphere. Increasing evidence suggests that successful dispersal and establishment cannot be assumed in the highly heterogeneous conditions of soil systems. Here, we summarize the key mechanisms underlying bacterial motility and discuss its role within the broader framework of microbial dispersal, highlighting how motility-mediated processes contribute to rhizosphere colonization. We propose that bacterial motility represents a key mechanistic determinant of biofertilizer efficacy. Its role extends beyond the ability of inoculant strains to physically reach the rhizosphere, encompassing competitive colonization on the root surface, long-term persistence, and the ability to respond to dynamic root-derived chemical gradients associated with newly developing root tissues. We argue that inoculant motility should be elevated from a passive descriptive trait to a core design parameter that can be systematically incorporated and regulated during the development and optimization of microbial inoculants. We outline a multi-tiered strategic framework for next-generation biofertilizer engineering that integrates strain selection, community design, motility regulation, and deployment strategies, thereby unlocking the full potential of synthetic microbial consortia for sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and climate change mitigation.

Biofertilizer↗
PubMed2025

Sphingobium yanoikuyae 41R9 Enhances Nitrogen Uptake by Modulating Transporter Genes and Root Development in Rapeseed.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are widely recognized for enhancing the absorption of mineral nutrients by crops. While Sphingobium species have been reported as PGPRs, their capacity to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Here, a strain 41R9, isolated from the rhizosphere of N-deficient rapeseed, was found to significantly enhance the growth performance of rapeseed under both low and normal N conditions. Genomic analysis revealed that strain 41R9 was closely related to Sphingobium yanoikuyae. 15N isotope tracer experiments confirmed that inoculation with strain 41R9 significantly boosted N uptake and translocation in rapeseed roots. Transcriptome profiling demonstrated that strain 41R9 directly upregulated N transporter genes (NRT2.5 and SLAH1/3), facilitating efficient N acquisition. Furthermore, strain 41R9 maintained jasmonic acid (JA) homoeostasis via JAZ-mediated negative feedback, balancing defense responses and root development, thereby improving the plant's N acquisition capacity in the roots. Metabolomic and in vitro assays further demonstrated that strain 41R9 displayed strong chemotaxis towards kaempferol, a N-deficiency-induced root exudate, suggesting kaempferol might as a chemical effector for S. yanoikuyae recruitment. These findings advance our understanding of PGPR-driven mechanisms in enhancing crop NUE and highlight the potential of harnessing PGPRs for sustainable agriculture.

Plant Roots↗
PubMed2025

Nodules-associated Klebsiella oxytoca complex: genomic insights into plant growth promotion and health risk assessment.

The swift emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across interconnected One Health compartments poses a significant global threat. Although plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria possess numerous attributes beneficial to host plants, many of these bacteria also harbor ARGs, necessitating a focused assessment of their negative implications. In this context, here we performed whole genome sequencing of 14 PGP endophytic strains isolated from root nodules of faba beans, belonging to three Klebsiella oxytoca species complex (KoSC): K. grimontii (n = 5), K. michiganensis (n = 5), and K. pasteurii (n = 4). We performed comparative genomics, molecular typing, and pangenome analyses on these strains. We identified significant diversity within the KoSC population, classifying the strains into five sequence types (STs), three of which are novel to this study (ST-542, ST-569, and ST-629). Phylogenomic analysis revealed that the bacterial strains clustered more closely by ST than by their source of isolation. Annotation of gene clusters indicated that all assembled genomes are enriched with genes involved in PGP activities, alongside a robust array of genes conferring tolerance to abiotic stresses. Importantly, our findings disclosed that the 14 assembled genomes harbored multiple ARGs, conferring resistance to various antibiotic classes, with 71% of the population classified as multidrug-resistant based on the in vitro antibiotic susceptibility assay. Furthermore, all genomes contained an array of virulence factors critical for survival, pathogenesis, biofilm formation, and root colonization. In conclusion, this study substantiates the hypothesis that certain PGP bacteria may serve as potential reservoirs of multidrug resistance, posing significant public health risks. Thus, the future advancement of bacteria-based biofertilizers should integrate environmental considerations and monitor their impact on antibiotic resistance dissemination in soil ecosystems.

Klebsiella oxytoca↗
PubMed2026

Mikania micrantha invasion restructures rhizosphere nitrogen cycling through enzyme activation, microbial recruitment, and allelopathic regulation.

BACKGROUND: Plant invasions profoundly influence terrestrial ecosystems by reshaping nutrient cycling processes. However, the mechanisms through which invasive plants such as Mikania micrantha modulate soil nitrogen (N) cycling and microbial communities remain insufficiently explored. Moreover, comparative studies with indigenous congener are scarce, limiting insights into whether such effects reflect species-specific strategies or genus-wide traits. This study investigates how M. micrantha modulates nitrogen metabolic pathways and rhizosphere microecology using combined metagenomic and metabolomic analyses. RESULTS: Integrated analyses revealed that M. micrantha established a distinctive "high total nitrogen-low mineral nitrogen" profile in the rhizosphere soil. Metagenomic profiling showed consistent enrichment of key ammonium assimilation enzymes, including glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase, promoting enhanced incorporation of NH₄⁺ into organic nitrogen pools. In contrast, genes encoding nitrate reductase and nitrate transporters were significantly lower in relative abundance, limiting nitrate assimilation. Mikania micrantha also selectively enriched nitrogen-fixing microbes (notably rhizobia genera) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), thereby enhancing biological nitrogen fixation capacity. Metabolomic analysis further identified several allelopathic compounds in invaded soils at higher relative abundance, particularly epicatechin, which exhibited inhibitory effects on nitrifying bacteria. Compared with the congener Mikania cordata, which exerted weaker impacts on soil nitrogen cycling and microbial assembly, M. micrantha deployed a more comprehensive strategy integrating biochemical, microbial, and metabolic regulation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that under greenhouse-controlled conditions, M. micrantha reconfigures rhizosphere nitrogen cycling through a multi-dimensional strategy that couples biochemical regulation, microbial recruitment, and metabolite-mediated interference, thereby suggesting a potential mechanism that may contribute to its ecological advantage in natural settings. Video Abstract.

Rhizosphere↗
PubMed2026

Streptomyces violaceusniger WZS5-6 suppresses Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 via antifungal metabolites and host defense induction.

INTRODUCTION: Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), poses a serious threat to the safety and sustainable development of the banana industry. Biological control represents one of the most environmentally friendly approaches for managing this disease. METHODS: In this study, Streptomyces violaceusniger WZS5-6 antifungal activity against Foc TR4 has been investigated through an integrated approach combining antifungal assays, genome analysis, and metabolomic profiling. For the purpose, the effects of the bacterial strain and its cell-free extract on morphological and ultrastructural changes on pathogenic fungal hyphae and spores were assessed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. LC-MS analysis was used to identify the metabolites responsible for antifungal activity. We further explored the potential of S. violaceusniger WZS5-6 against Foc TR4 through in planta validation. RESULTS: Streptomyces violaceusniger WZS5-6 exhibited a strong inhibition rate of 91.57% on Foc TR4. The cell-free extract obtained from S. violaceusniger WZS5-6 strongly inhibited Foc TR4 with an EC50 value of 91.62 µg·mL-1, indicating the presence of antifungal bioactive metabolites. The results showed that S. violaceusniger WZS5-6 significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of Foc TR4 and induced alterations in spore morphology, mycelial ultrastructure, and cell membrane leakage. Metabolomic profiling of the S. violaceusniger WZS5-6 extracts revealed numerous antifungal metabolites, among which the key metabolites, viz., citronellic acid and furanodienone, exhibited strong inhibitory effects on Foc TR4, with antifungal activity of 61.13% and 57.44%, respectively. Moreover, strain WZS5-6 not only demonstrated 61.54% control efficacy against FWB in a pot experiment but also showed promising growth-promoting effects on banana plants. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that S. violaceusniger WZS5-6 inhibits Foc TR4 through a multi-level mechanism involving cellular disruption, metabolic adaptation, and activation of host defense responses. These findings highlight the potential of S. violaceusniger WZS5-6 as a promising novel candidate strain to be employed as a biological control agent of FWB.

Fusarium wilt of banana↗
PubMed2026

Systematic mining and characterization of metal transporter families regulating zinc homeostasis provide insights into metal homeostasis in Camellia sinensis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Zinc is essential for tea plant growth and quality formation, yet its homeostatic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study identified metal transporter families regulating zinc homeostasis, analyzed their evolution, structure, and expression, and clarified zinc uptake, transport, detoxification networks, and their links to metabolism. METHODS: This study identified zinc homeostasis-related metal transporter families in the tea plant genome, characterized their structural features and expression profiles across tissues and developmental stages through integrative bioinformatics and transcriptomic analyses, and delineated the molecular mechanisms underlying zinc uptake, translocation, and detoxification by systematically integrating published evidence. RESULTS: This study identified 74 metal transporter genes from six families: 13 CsZIPs, 12 CsNRAMPs, 10 CsHMAs, 10 CsYSLs, 14 CsMTPs, and 15 CsCAXs in the 'Shuchazao2' genome, revealing closer affinity to woody species than to Arabidopsis. These proteins exhibit conserved domains, diverse subcellular localizations (cell membrane, vacuole, chloroplast, and Golgi apparatus), and tissue-specific expression with abundant stress/hormone-responsive cis-elements. At the plant-soil interface, tea plants mobilize rhizospheric zinc via proton and organic acid secretion; CsYSLs, CsNRAMPs, and CsZIPs mediate zinc uptake, aided by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that expand root absorption zones. Xylem CsHMAs and phloem CsYSLs coordinate root-to-shoot zinc translocation, and vacuolar transporters (CsMTPs, CsCAXs), cell wall immobilization, and antioxidant systems alleviate high-zinc stress injury. CONCLUSIONS: These findings collectively delineate an integrated zinc "acquisition-distribution-buffering" network in tea plants, offering a repertoire of candidate genes with potential utility in zinc biofortification breeding and improving acid soil adaptation. Further experimental validation, including tea transgenesis, zinc-stress qRT-PCR, and heterologous functional complementation, is essential to substantiate their biological roles.

Camellia sinensis↗