Search

BACKGROUND: Root knot nematodes (RKNs) pose a great threat to agricultural production worldwide. The bacterial nematocides have received increasing attention due to their safe and efficient control against RKNs. Here, we investigated the biocontrol efficacy of Paenibacillus polymyxa J2‐4 against Meloidogyne incognita in the field and analyzed the rhizosphere microbiome of cucumber under nematode infection after application of the J2‐4 strain. Furthermore, a biomarker strain of Pseudomonas spp. was isolated from the J2‐4‐inoculated rhizosphere soil, and its nematocidal activity and growth‐promoting effect on host plants were determined. In addition, chemotaxis assay of P. fluroescens ZJ5 toward root exudates was carried out. RESULTS: The field experiment demonstrated that P. polymyxa J2‐4 could effectively suppressed gall formation in cucumber plants, with the galling index reduced by 67.63% in 2022 and 65.50% in 2023, respectively, compared with controls. Meanwhile, plant height and yield were significantly increased in J2‐4 treated plants compared with controls. Metagenomic analysis indicated that J2‐4 altered the rhizosphere microbial communities. The relative abundance of Pseudomonas spp. was notably enhanced in the J2‐4 group, which was consistent with Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size results that Pseudomonas was determined as one of the biomarkers in the J2‐4 group. Furthermore, the ZJ5 strain, one of the biomarker Pseudomonas strains, was isolated from the J2‐4‐inoculated rhizosphere soil and was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. In addition, P. fluorescens ZJ5 exhibited high nematicidal activity in vitro and in vivo, with 99.20% of the mortality rate of M. incognita at 24 h and 69.75% of gall index reduction. The biocontrol efficiency of the synthetic community of ZJ5 plus J2‐4 was superior to that of any other single bacteria against M. incognita. Additionally, ZJ5 exhibited great chemotaxis ability toward root exudates inoculated with J2‐4. CONCLUSION: Paenibacillus polymyxa J2‐4 has good potential in the biological control against M. incognita under field conditions. Enrichment of the beneficial bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens ZJ5 in the J2‐4‐inoculated rhizosphere soil contributes to M. incognita management. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most destructive agricultural pathogens around the world, resulting in severe damage to yield and quality in agricultural production. Biological control promises to be a great potential alternative to chemical agents against M. incognita. Paenibacillus polymyxa J2-4, isolated from ginger plants injured by M. incognita , has shown excellent biocontrol efficacy against M. incognita in cucumber. In vitro experiments with the strain J2-4 resulted in a correct mortality rate of 88.79% (24 h) and 98.57% (48 h) for second-stage juveniles (J2s) of M. incognita. Strain J2-4 significantly suppressed nematode infection on potted plants, with a 65.94% reduction in galls and a 51.64% reduction in eggs compared with the control. The split-root assay demonstrated that strain J2-4 not only reduced J2s' invasion but also inhibited nematode development through the dependence on salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling of strain J2-4 induction of plant resistance in local and systemic roots of cucumbers. Genomic analysis of strain J2-4 indicated biosynthetic gene clusters encoding polymyxin, fusaricidin B, paenilan, and tridecaptin. In addition, genetic analysis showed that none of the genes encoding virulence factors were detected in the genome of J2-4 compared with the pathogenic Bacillus species. Taking all the data together, we conclude that P. polymyxa J2-4 has potential as a biological control agent against M. incognita on cucumbers and can be considered biologically safe when used in agriculture., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.