AUTHOR=Xu Wen , Yang Qian , Yang Fan , Xie Xia , Goodwin Paul H. , Deng Xiaoxu , Tian Baoming , Yang Lirong 

TITLE=Evaluation and Genome Analysis of Bacillus subtilis YB-04 as a Potential Biocontrol Agent Against Fusarium Wilt and Growth Promotion Agent of Cucumber

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.885430

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.885430

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Cucumber wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum (Foc) is a highly destructive disease that leads to yield reduction of cucumber. In this study, strain YB-04 was isolated from wheat straw and identified as Bacillus subtilis. It displayed strong antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum in dual culture, and exhibited significant biocontrol of cucumber Fusarium wilt with pronounced growth-promotion of cucumber seedlings. B. subtilis YB-04 could secrete extracellular protease, amylase, cellulose and β-1, 3-glucanase and was able to produce siderophores and indole acetic acid. Inoculation with B. subtilis YB-04 or Foc increased cucumber defense-related enzymes activities for PPO, SOD, CAT, PAL and LOX. However, the greatest increase was with the combination of B. subtilis YB-04 and Foc. Sequencing the genome of B. subtilis YB-04 showed that it had genes for the biosynthesis of various secondary metabolites, Carbohydrate-Active enzymes and assimilation of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. B. subtilis YB-04 appears to be a promising biological control agent against Fusarium wilt of cucumber as well as promoting cucumber growth.