Bacillus velezensis ZN-S10 Reforms the Rhizosphere Microbial Community and Enhances Tomato Resistance to TPN

Abstract

Tomato pith necrosis (TPN) is a highly destructive disease caused by species of the Pseudomonas genus and other bacteria, resulting in a significant reduction in tomato yield. Members of the genus Bacillus are beneficial microorganisms extensively studied in the rhizosphere. However, in most cases, the potential of Bacillus members in controlling TPN and their impact on the rhizosphere microbial composition remain rarely studied. In this study, Bacillus velezensis ZN-S10 significantly inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas viridiflava ZJUP0398-2, and ZN-S10 controlled TPN with control efficacies of 60.31%. P. viridiflava ZJUP0398-2 significantly altered the richness and diversity of the tomato rhizobacterial community, but pre-inoculation with ZN-S10 mitigated these changes. The correlation analysis revealed that ZN-S10 maybe inhibits the growth of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and recruits beneficial bacterial communities associated with disease resistance, thereby suppressing the occurrence of diseases. In summary, the comparative analysis of the rhizosphere microbiome was conducted to explore the impact of ZN-S10 on the composition of rhizosphere microorganisms in the presence of pathogenic bacteria, aiming to provide insights for further research and the development of scientific and eco-friendly control strategies for this disease.