Bacillus velezensis ES2-4 modulates root exudation and microbiome remodeling to enhance soybean resistance against gray mold.

ABSTRACT: Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, represents a significant threat to soybean productivity, while conventional chemical control strategies raise concerns regarding long-term sustainability. Plant-associated beneficial microbes, such as Bacillus velezensis, have been proposed as environmentally sustainable alternatives; however, their specific roles in modulating root-microbe interactions remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the mechanisms by which B. velezensis ES2-4 enhances soybean resistance by modulating root exudate composition and restructuring rhizosphere microbial communities. Metabolomic and metagenomic analyses indicated that ES2-4 inoculation led to the upregulation of antifungal metabolites (e.g., oxalic acid, eicosane) in root exudates, which facili

SUBMITTER: Chen R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12549973 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature