Paenibacillus polymyxa K17 controls leaf spot of tea plant by impairing fungal cellular structure and energy metabolism

Fungal diseases limit the yield and quality of tea production. Utilizing biocontrol microbes (BCMs) has emerged as a promising strategy for sustainable disease management in tea cultivation. In the current study, a novel BCM strain Paenibacillus polymyxa K17 was isolated, which possesses broad-spectrum and potent antifungal capacity. This strain could suppress the growth of 13 species of phytopathogens from at least four crops, with in vitro inhibition rates ranging from 53% to 82%. Notably, P.