Nematicidal, Acaricidal and Plant Growth-Promoting Activity of Enterobacter Endophytic Strains and Identification of Genes Associated with These Biological Activities in the Genomes

In the present study, the nematicidal and acaricidal activity of three endophytic strains isolated from nodules was evaluated. The percentages of mortality of NOD4 against was 81.2%, and against 70.1%, NOD8 72.4% and 62.5%, and NOD10 64.8% and 58.7%, respectively. While against the mite, the mortality percentages were 68.2% due to NOD4, 64.3% due to NOD8 and 77.8% due to NOD10. On the other hand, the ability of the three strains to produce indole acetic acid and phosphate solubilization, characteristics related to plant growth-promoting bacteria, was detected. Bioinformatic analysis of the genomes showed the presence of genes related to IAA production, phosphate solubilization, and nitrogen fixation. Phylogenetic analyzes of the A gene, phylogenomics, and average nucleotide identity (ANI) allowed us to identify the strain NOD8 related to and NOD10 as , while NOD4 was identified as a possible new species of this species. The plant growth-promoting, acaricidal and nematicidal activity of the three strains makes them a potential agent to include in biocontrol alternatives and as growth-promoting bacteria in crops of agricultural interest.