AUTHOR=Kumar Pradeep , Rani Simran , Dahiya Priyanka , Kumar Ajit , Dang Amita Suneja , Suneja Pooja 

TITLE=Whole genome analysis for plant growth promotion profiling of Pantoea agglomerans CPHN2, a non-rhizobial nodule endophyte

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.998821

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.998821

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Reduced agricultural production as well as issues like nutrient-depleted soils, eutrophication, and groundwater contamination have drawn attention to the use of endophyte-based bioformulations to restore soil fertility. <italic>Pantoea agglomerans</italic> CPHN2, a non-rhizobial nodule endophyte isolated from <italic>Cicer arietinum</italic>, exhibited a variety of plant growth-promoting traits. In this study, we used NextSeq500 technology to analyze whole-genome sequence information of this plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria. The genome of <italic>P. agglomerans</italic> CPHN2 has a length of 4,839,532 bp and a G + C content of 55.2%. The whole genome comprises three different genomic fractions, comprising one circular chromosome and two circular plasmids. A comparative analysis between <italic>P. agglomerans</italic> CPHN2 and 10 genetically similar strains was performed using a bacterial pan-genome pipeline. All the predicted and annotated gene sequences for plant growth promotions (PGPs), such as phosphate solubilization, siderophore synthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) of <italic>P. agglomerans</italic> CPHN2, were identified. The whole-genome analysis of <italic>P. agglomerans</italic> CPHN2 provides an insight into the mechanisms underlying PGP by endophytes and its potential applications as a biofertilizer.</p>