Priestia megaterium KW16: A Novel Plant Growth-Promoting and Biocontrol Agent Against Rhizoctonia solani in Oilseed Rape ( Brassica napus L.)—Functional and Genomic Insights

Bożena Nowak, Daria Chlebek and Katarzyna Hupert-Kocurek ()
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Bożena Nowak: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Daria Chlebek: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Katarzyna Hupert-Kocurek: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-34

Abstract: Plant diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani present a significant challenge in agriculture. While chemical pesticides remain a common control strategy, their use leads to health and environmental problems. In contrast, endophytic bacteria with plant growth-promoting (PGP) activity offer a promising, sustainable alternative. In this context, a novel endophytic Priestia megaterium strain, KW16, originated from the bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.), demonstrated distinct biocontrol potential against R. solani . in vitro assays showed that KW16 inhibited R. solani growth by up to 58%, primarily by releasing volatile compounds. In planta experiments further highlighted KW16′s ability to colonize oilseed rape internal tissues, significantly enhancing its growth and development. In the presence of the pathogen, KW16 abolished the negative impact of R. solani and promoted plant growth, increasing shoot and root biomass by 216% and 1737%, respectively, when compared to the plants grown in fungal-infested soil. Biochemical and genome analyses confirmed the strain’s metabolic versatility, resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, and a whole spectrum of PGP and biocontrol traits such as biofilm formation, production of phytohormones, and synthesis of lytic enzymes, siderophores, and volatiles, alongside its ability to survive in the presence of autochthonous soil microflora. These findings position KW16 as a potent biological alternative to synthetic fungicides, with significant potential for sustainable crop protection.

Keywords: biocontrol; plant growth promotion; Priestia; Rhizoctonia; genome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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