Search

BACKGROUND: As a type of biological control agent (BCA), Bacillus velezensis possesses the efficacy of inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms, promoting plant growth, and overcoming continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). However, there is limited reporting on the optimization of the cultivation conditions for such biocontrol agents and their role as double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery vectors. RESULTS: In this study, a Bacillus velezensis strain HS‐3 was isolated from the root zone of tomato plants with in vitro anti‐Botrytis cinerea activity. The investigation into active compounds revealed that HS‐3 predominantly employs proteins with molecular weights greater than 3 kDa for its antifungal activity. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis identified various proteases and chitosanase, further suggesting that HS‐3 most likely employs these enzymes to degrade fungal cell walls for its antifungal effect. To optimize the production of extracellular proteins, fermentation parameters for HS‐3 were systematically optimized, leading to an optimized medium (OP‐M). HS‐3 cultured in OP‐M demonstrated enhanced capacity to assist tomato plants in withstanding CCOs. However, the presence of excessive nematodes in diseased soil resulted in the disease severity index (DSI) remaining high. An RNA interference mechanism was further introduced to HS‐3, targeting the nematode tyrosine phosphatase (TP) gene. Ultimately, HS‐3 expressing dsRNA of TP in OP‐M effectively assisted tomatoes in mitigating CCOs, reducing DSI to 2.2% and 17.8% of the control after 45 and 90 days of growth, respectively. CONCLUSION: The advantages of Bacillus velezensis in crop disease management and the mitigation of CCOs become even more pronounced when utilizing both optimized levels of endogenous enzymes and introduced nematode‐targeting dsRNA. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse secondary metabolites in plants, with their rich biological activities, have long been important sources for human medicine, food additives, pesticides, etc. However, the large-scale cultivation of host plants consumes land resources and is susceptible to pest and disease problems. Additionally, the multi-step and demanding nature of chemical synthesis adds to production costs, limiting their widespread application. In vitro cultivation and the metabolic engineering of plants have significantly enhanced the synthesis of secondary metabolites with successful industrial production cases. As synthetic biology advances, more research is focusing on heterologous synthesis using microorganisms. This review provides a comprehensive comparison between these two chassis, evaluating their performance in the synthesis of various types of secondary metabolites from the perspectives of yield and strategies. It also discusses the challenges they face and offers insights into future efforts and directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]