Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Bacillus velezensis PSE31B is a recently identified PGPR belonging to the genus Bacillus. As the first part of the project, this study was conducted to investigate the role of the ethylene signaling pathway in the growth promotion elicited by the PSE31B strain. The study consists of two different experiments in vitro and in vivo with Arabidopsis wild type and two mutants impaired in the ethylene signaling pathway.

The key findings are that plants belonging to all genotypes tested inoculated with PSE31B have reduced root length compared to the controls, implying that PSE31B influences the root growth of Arabidopsis through a mechanism independent of the ethylene signaling pathway.
The result of whole genome sequencing reveals the strain belongs to the genus Bacillus and can be categorized as B. velezensis. The analysis of protein sequences involved in plant microbial interactions has identified a considerable fraction of proteins involved in root colonization, stress tolerance, and biofertilization indicating its capacity to be a plant growth-promoting bacteria. Overall the annotated data from the whole genome sequencing uncovers strain has the potential capability to be used as a biofertilizer and a biocontrol agent.