Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92

Avocado root rot, driven by soil-borne fungi such as Fusarium spp., poses a major challenge to global avocado production. The rhizosphere microbiome is critical for plant health, yet the impact of root rot on bacterial community structure and its implications for disease management remain poorly und...

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Main Authors: Chengxian Wang, Zhijiao Song, Xue Li, Qing Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1626537/full
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author Chengxian Wang
Chengxian Wang
Chengxian Wang
Zhijiao Song
Zhijiao Song
Zhijiao Song
Xue Li
Xue Li
Xue Li
Qing Liu
Qing Liu
Qing Liu
author_facet Chengxian Wang
Chengxian Wang
Chengxian Wang
Zhijiao Song
Zhijiao Song
Zhijiao Song
Xue Li
Xue Li
Xue Li
Qing Liu
Qing Liu
Qing Liu
author_sort Chengxian Wang
collection DOAJ
description Avocado root rot, driven by soil-borne fungi such as Fusarium spp., poses a major challenge to global avocado production. The rhizosphere microbiome is critical for plant health, yet the impact of root rot on bacterial community structure and its implications for disease management remain poorly understood. Here, we combined culture-independent 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing with culture-dependent isolation to characterize bacterial communities in healthy and Fusarium-infested avocado bulk and rhizosphere soils. Key beneficial taxa, notably Bacillus, were then isolated and evaluated for their antagonistic potential. Results showed that root rot significantly reduced rhizosphere bacterial α-diversity, altered community structure, and depleted phyla such as Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes that contain beneficial taxa. Beneficial genera such as Bacillus and Streptomyces declined, while cultivable Fusarium counts increased. Negative correlations between Fusarium abundance, the bacteria-to-fungi ratio, and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria further underscore their suppressive role. Guided by these findings, we isolated Bacillus strain NB92, identified as Bacillus siamensis through morphological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA and gyrA gene analyses. NB92 exhibited strong antagonistic activity against the root rot pathogen (Fusarium sp. St7) via both direct antagonism and volatile organic compound production. Inoculating NB92 into diseased rhizosphere soil boosted Bacillus counts and reduced Fusarium abundance. Moreover, NB92 effectively inhibited the pathogen’s necrotizing ability. B. siamensis NB92 thus represents a promising, sustainable biocontrol agent and contributes to the development of microbiome-based strategies for managing avocado root rot.
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spelling doaj-art-96f8e2bf1aab4716b712a5a187d2db742025-08-20T03:21:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-06-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.16265371626537Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92Chengxian Wang0Chengxian Wang1Chengxian Wang2Zhijiao Song3Zhijiao Song4Zhijiao Song5Xue Li6Xue Li7Xue Li8Qing Liu9Qing Liu10Qing Liu11School of Resources and Environment, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaBaoshan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan, ChinaResearch Institute of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaBaoshan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan, ChinaResearch Institute of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaBaoshan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan, ChinaResearch Institute of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaBaoshan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan, ChinaResearch Institute of Gaoligong Mountains, Baoshan University, Baoshan, ChinaAvocado root rot, driven by soil-borne fungi such as Fusarium spp., poses a major challenge to global avocado production. The rhizosphere microbiome is critical for plant health, yet the impact of root rot on bacterial community structure and its implications for disease management remain poorly understood. Here, we combined culture-independent 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing with culture-dependent isolation to characterize bacterial communities in healthy and Fusarium-infested avocado bulk and rhizosphere soils. Key beneficial taxa, notably Bacillus, were then isolated and evaluated for their antagonistic potential. Results showed that root rot significantly reduced rhizosphere bacterial α-diversity, altered community structure, and depleted phyla such as Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes that contain beneficial taxa. Beneficial genera such as Bacillus and Streptomyces declined, while cultivable Fusarium counts increased. Negative correlations between Fusarium abundance, the bacteria-to-fungi ratio, and the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria further underscore their suppressive role. Guided by these findings, we isolated Bacillus strain NB92, identified as Bacillus siamensis through morphological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA and gyrA gene analyses. NB92 exhibited strong antagonistic activity against the root rot pathogen (Fusarium sp. St7) via both direct antagonism and volatile organic compound production. Inoculating NB92 into diseased rhizosphere soil boosted Bacillus counts and reduced Fusarium abundance. Moreover, NB92 effectively inhibited the pathogen’s necrotizing ability. B. siamensis NB92 thus represents a promising, sustainable biocontrol agent and contributes to the development of microbiome-based strategies for managing avocado root rot.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1626537/fullavocado root rotFusariumrhizosphere microbiomebacterial community dynamicsBacillus siamensisbiological control
spellingShingle Chengxian Wang
Chengxian Wang
Chengxian Wang
Zhijiao Song
Zhijiao Song
Zhijiao Song
Xue Li
Xue Li
Xue Li
Qing Liu
Qing Liu
Qing Liu
Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92
Frontiers in Microbiology
avocado root rot
Fusarium
rhizosphere microbiome
bacterial community dynamics
Bacillus siamensis
biological control
title Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92
title_full Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92
title_fullStr Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92
title_full_unstemmed Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92
title_short Bacterial community shifts in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of Bacillus siamensis NB92
title_sort bacterial community shifts in fusarium induced avocado root rot and the antagonistic potential of bacillus siamensis nb92
topic avocado root rot
Fusarium
rhizosphere microbiome
bacterial community dynamics
Bacillus siamensis
biological control
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1626537/full
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