Genetic Determinants of Antagonistic and Growth-Stimulating Activity of Pantoea pleuroti

Cereals are crucial to food security, but intensive agrochemical farming depletes soil ecosystems and increases environmental risks. In this regard, microbial biological control agents hold great promise. The bacterial genus Pantoea stimulates plant growth and suppresses phytopathogens. However, its practical application requires a molecular genetic assessment of its biosafety and metabolic potential. A genome-wide bioinformatic analysis of the biosynthesis of Pantoea pleuroti B-14756 secondary metabolites was conducted to assess its genetic and metabolic potential as a biocontrol agent for phytopathogens of cereal crops. The strain of P. pleuroti B-14756 was obtained from the National Bioresource Center at the Kurchatov Institute (Moscow, Russia). Genome-wide sequencing was performed on the MGIseq-2000 and Polyseq One platforms. The genome was assembled de novo, polished, and annotated using the following bioinformatics tools: Flye, Raven, Trycycler, Medaka, Polypolish, POLCA, BUSCO, Bakta, and antiSMASH. The sequencing and assembly yielded the P. pleuroti B-14756 genome with a size of 4,735,406 bp and a GC content of 53%. The genome annotation revealed 4,416 coding sequences, seven rRNA clusters, and 78 tRNAs. The antiSMASH analysis revealed nine clusters of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, including clusters associated with the synthesis of aerobactin, desferrioxamine E, and carotenoids. Aerobactin and desferrioxamine E demonstrate the ability to bind, chelate, and subsequently import iron ions, while carotenoids perform an antioxidant function, protecting the cell from reactive oxygen species under stressful conditions. P. pleuroti B-14756 was proved to possess biosynthetic clusters of secondary metabolites (including NRPS, RiPP, phosphonate, and terpene pathways). This finding confirms the pronounced antagonistic potential of the strain and its promising application in the biological control of phytopathogens.