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

作者：Changxi Wang, Weichen Song, Chunyu Li, Yiran Cao, Xichen Li, Jing Zhao, Fei Yang, Haiyi Yu, Qiang Liang, Ke Yang, Jian Ning Liu, Hongcheng Fang · 发表于：BMC Plant Biology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12870-025-06812-3 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity、Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism、Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques

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.