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Nocardia mangyaensis NH1: A Biofertilizer Candidate with Tolerance to Pesticides, Heavy Metals and Antibiotics

Summary

Scientists studied a soil bacterium called Nocardia mangyaensis NH1 as a potential natural fertilizer for farms. The bacteria can survive exposure to common pesticides and heavy metals in contaminated soils, making it useful for sustainable agriculture. It has few antibiotic resistance genes, which is important for preventing the spread of resistant bacteria, and its genome is relatively stable and lacks harmful genes, making it safe for agricultural use.

Background

The extensive use of agrochemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals in agriculture poses significant challenges to environmental sustainability and soil health. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) offer promise for sustainable agriculture, but their selection requires careful evaluation of genome stability, metal tolerance, antibiotic resistance, and pesticide degradation capacity.

Objective

To characterize the physiological and genomic features of the endolithic bacterium Nocardia mangyaensis NH1, focusing on its potential as a biofertilizer candidate with tolerance to pesticides, heavy metals, and antibiotics while maintaining genomic stability.

Results

N. mangyaensis NH1 maintained viability with glufosinate-ammonium, difenoconazole, fludioxonil and chlorothalonil, demonstrated multiple heavy metal resistance with diverse metal transportome (170 transporters), contained minimal antibiotic resistance genes with susceptibility to broad-spectrum antibiotics, and possessed a stable genome with non-pathogenic genomic islands and a type II CRISPR-Cas9 system.

Conclusion

N. mangyaensis NH1 represents a promising biofertilizer candidate combining pesticide and metal tolerance with genomic stability and minimal antibiotic resistance genes, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices while reducing environmental risks associated with agrochemical use.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 41472009
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