Bacillus velezensis strain:118 | isolate:118 Genome sequencing

We isolated and characterized B. velezensis 118, a strain indigenous to Guangzhou, a city in South China with a south Asian tropical monsoon oceanic climate and latisolic red soils. This strain exhibits robust biocontrol activity against the banana fungal pathogen and the bacterial wilt pathogen. We further demonstrated that the ECF sigma factor Sigma X is required for effective biocontrol under natural environmental conditions, likely through its contribution to biofilm formation. This study highlights the role of Sigma X in enhancing biocontrol efficacy of B. velezensis.