Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth

Abstract Background Rhizosphere microorganisms can improve soil quality, promote plant growth, and enhance plant health. Despite the isolation of numerous plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, research on how PGPR enhances walnut growth remains limited. Results In this study, the meta...

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Main Authors: Changxi Wang, Weichen Song, Chunyu Li, Yiran Cao, Xichen Li, Jing Zhao, Fei Yang, Haiyi Yu, Qiang Liang, Ke Qiang Yang, Jian Ning Liu, Hongcheng Fang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06812-3
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author Changxi Wang
Weichen Song
Chunyu Li
Yiran Cao
Xichen Li
Jing Zhao
Fei Yang
Haiyi Yu
Qiang Liang
Ke Qiang Yang
Jian Ning Liu
Hongcheng Fang
author_facet Changxi Wang
Weichen Song
Chunyu Li
Yiran Cao
Xichen Li
Jing Zhao
Fei Yang
Haiyi Yu
Qiang Liang
Ke Qiang Yang
Jian Ning Liu
Hongcheng Fang
author_sort Changxi Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Rhizosphere microorganisms can improve soil quality, promote plant growth, and enhance plant health. Despite the isolation of numerous plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, research on how PGPR enhances walnut growth remains limited. Results In this study, the metagenomic sequencing of the rhizosphere soil in 8 major walnut-producing areas in China was conducted to identify 150 shared core amplicon sequence variants. Then, we isolated a strain of Bacillus cereus OTU8977 from the walnut rhizosphere soil and evaluated its potential plant growth-promoting functions. B. cereus OTU8977 can optimize the walnut rhizosphere microecology and promote its growth through its considerable potential in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and potassium dissolution. Transcriptomic analysis of walnut roots revealed that B. cereus OTU8977 promotes the growth of walnuts by enhancing phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolic processes. Conclusions This study identified a strain of Bacillus cereus with multiple plant growth-promoting functions, which significantly enhanced walnut growth. Moreover, the study further elucidated the mechanisms underlying its growth-promoting effects, providing a theoretical foundation for the development of walnut-specific microbial fertilizers.
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spelling doaj-art-c421efd03c844a6aa12bab85daa052e62025-08-20T03:37:29ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125111710.1186/s12870-025-06812-3Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growthChangxi Wang0Weichen Song1Chunyu Li2Yiran Cao3Xichen Li4Jing Zhao5Fei Yang6Haiyi Yu7Qiang Liang8Ke Qiang Yang9Jian Ning Liu10Hongcheng Fang11College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityCollege of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Rhizosphere microorganisms can improve soil quality, promote plant growth, and enhance plant health. Despite the isolation of numerous plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, research on how PGPR enhances walnut growth remains limited. Results In this study, the metagenomic sequencing of the rhizosphere soil in 8 major walnut-producing areas in China was conducted to identify 150 shared core amplicon sequence variants. Then, we isolated a strain of Bacillus cereus OTU8977 from the walnut rhizosphere soil and evaluated its potential plant growth-promoting functions. B. cereus OTU8977 can optimize the walnut rhizosphere microecology and promote its growth through its considerable potential in nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and potassium dissolution. Transcriptomic analysis of walnut roots revealed that B. cereus OTU8977 promotes the growth of walnuts by enhancing phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolic processes. Conclusions This study identified a strain of Bacillus cereus with multiple plant growth-promoting functions, which significantly enhanced walnut growth. Moreover, the study further elucidated the mechanisms underlying its growth-promoting effects, providing a theoretical foundation for the development of walnut-specific microbial fertilizers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06812-3WalnutMetagenomicPGPRBacillus cereus OTU8977Phenylpropanoid biosynthesisCarbohydrate metabolic process
spellingShingle Changxi Wang
Weichen Song
Chunyu Li
Yiran Cao
Xichen Li
Jing Zhao
Fei Yang
Haiyi Yu
Qiang Liang
Ke Qiang Yang
Jian Ning Liu
Hongcheng Fang
Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
BMC Plant Biology
Walnut
Metagenomic
PGPR
Bacillus cereus OTU8977
Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis
Carbohydrate metabolic process
title Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
title_full Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
title_fullStr Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
title_full_unstemmed Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
title_short Metagenomic analysis reveals Bacillus cereus OTU8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
title_sort metagenomic analysis reveals bacillus cereus otu8977 as a potential probiotic in promoting walnut growth
topic Walnut
Metagenomic
PGPR
Bacillus cereus OTU8977
Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis
Carbohydrate metabolic process
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06812-3
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