Authors : Tanim Jabid Hossain
DOI : 10.2139/ssrn.5030847
Volume : 1
Issue : 1
Year : 2026
Page No : Preprint
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are integral to sustainable agriculture, enhancing plant growth, nutrient availability, and soil health. The genome analysis of Pantoea dispersa PGPR-24, a rhizobacterium isolated from the chrysanthemum rhizosphere, reveals its extensive potential as a PGPR supported by diverse genetic pathways linked to nutrient mobilization, plant growth promotion, and stress adaptation. The 4.746 Mb genome, with 99.37% completeness and 4,411 coding sequences, encodes key genes for phosphate solubilization, siderophore-mediated iron acquisition, sulfate assimilation, and ammonia assimilation, highlighting its role in nutrient cycling and bioavailability. Genes associated with auxin and cytokinin biosynthesis suggest its potential to produce phytohormones that regulate root architecture, enhance nutrient uptake, and support plant development. Additionally, the genome encodes biosynthetic pathways for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including acetoin and 2,3-butanediol, which are known stimulate root elongation, improve stress tolerance, and activate plant defense responses. Furthermore, the genome features compounds with antimicrobial and protective properties, such as siderophores, carotenoids and exopolysaccharides, which contribute to pathogen suppression, biofilm formation and enhanced rhizosphere colonization. Genes supporting motility, chemotaxis, and adhesion further strengthen potential for efficient colonization and plant-microbe interactions. Stress-response mechanisms, including pathways for osmoregulation, oxidative and periplasmic stress tolerance, and starvation resistance, equip the strain to thrive in diverse environmental conditions. These genomic insights, complemented by its reported in vitro plant growth-promoting traits, not only position P. dispersa PGPR-24 as a highly versatile rhizobacterium for sustainable agriculture but also offer a valuable genetic framework for advancing our understanding of PGPR-mediated plant growth promotion and stress resilience.