Biocontrol and Growth Promotion of Rice by <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> SNTKU16: Beneficial Properties and Genomic Potential

Dirty panicle and sheath blight are important diseases that have the capacity to reduce rice productivity and grain quality. The bacterial strain SNTKU16 was isolated from soil in a sugarcane field and identified as <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. This bacterium and its cell-free culture exhibited strong fungal antagonistic activity against a range of rice dirty panicle pathogens (<i>Curvularia lunata</i>, <i>Fusarium semitectum</i>, and <i>Helminthosporium oryzae</i>) and a sheath blight pathogen (<i>Rhizoctonia solani</i>). In addition to its role in disease control, the cell suspension and cell-free culture of this strain significantly enhanced rice seed germination and seedling growth. Furthermore, this bacterium exhibited various plant growth-promoting traits such as indole acetic acid, ammonia and siderophore productions, and phosphate solubilization. Genome analysis of SNTKU16 revealed its genetic potential for controlling plant diseases through direct antagonistic activities against pathogens, as well as indirect mechanisms, such as promoting plant growth. These capabilities suggest a multifaceted approach to disease management and plant growth promotion, making this strain an intriguing candidate for further exploration in sustainable agriculture and microbial biotechnology.