Title : Genome sequence of a Bacillus sp. with antimicrobial activity toward significant sorghum fungal pathogens
Abstract:
The cereal Sorghum bicolor (L.) is the fifth most important crop with a range of uses from food, feed, fodder, and recently to a potential source of biofuel. Fungi are the primary disease agents that cause significant yield losses to sorghum. Currently, fungal infections of sorghum are controlled by chemical applications that pose both a toxic risk to the environment and potential resistance development by the microbes. Recently, we showed the effectiveness of a bacterium (Bacillus sp.) called LP16S recovered from sorghum that can thwart major fungal pathogens (Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia and Bipolaris) of the plant. Using next generation sequencing technology, the entire genome of strain LP16S was sequenced with the aim of mining for genes that encode products used to suppress fungal growth and development. Both shotgun and paired-end libraries were generated, sequenced and the data was used to construct the genome. The genome consisted of over 5 Mbp and extrachromosomal DNA was detected. For manual annotation, putative coding sequences were identified with the NCBI BLASTx program. The Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline program at the NCBI was used for computational gene prediction; both sets of results were manually curated. Annotation of the genome revealed several predicted gene products with antifungal activity that shall be discussed. Further, work to characterize the naturally produced biocontrol factors is in progress to ultimately eliminate or minimize fungal attacks on sorghum without the use of chemicals. This is the first whole genome sequence and annotation project of a bacterial biocontrol agent that can inhibit multiple sorghum fungal pathogens.
