Taxonomy-guided selection of <i>Paraburkholderia busanensis</i> sp. nov.: a versatile biocontrol agent with mycophagy against <i>Colletotrichum scovillei</i> causing pepper anthracnose

Abstract

Traditional control methods for postharvest diseases rely on fungicides, which cause human health and environmental concerns. This study introduces a taxonomy-guided strategy for selecting biocontrol agents. By focusing on <i>Paraburkholderia</i> group, which harbors diverse plant-beneficial strains, the inadvertent selection of harmful strains was circumvented, thereby obviating the need for laborious <i>in vitro</i> screening assays. A highly promising candidate, strain P39, has been identified, exhibiting remarkable biocontrol activity against <i>Colletotrichum scovillei</i>. Through comprehensive genomic, physiological, and biochemical analyses, P39 was characterized as a novel species within the <i>Paraburkholderia</i> genus and designated <i>Paraburkholderia busanensis</i>. Moreover, these findings deepen our understanding of bacterial-fungal interactions, as they elucidate a potential pathway for the utilization of fungal chitin, thereby enhancing our understanding of bacterial mycophagy. <i>P. busanensis</i> is a promising source of antifungal volatiles and putative novel secondary metabolites.