An endophytic strain of genus Paenibacillus isolated from the fruits of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) has antagonistic activity against a Noni's pathogenic strain of genus Aspergillus.

Endophytes are microbes capable of colonizing the tissues of healthy plants and subsequently establishing a harmonious relationship with their hosts. In this research, the endophytic strain Paenibacillus sp. NEB was isolated from fruits of healthy Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.). Strain NEB was identified as Paenibacillus polymyxa using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. Pathogenic fungal strain NP-1 was isolated from Noni fruits infected by smut, and was identified as Aspergillus aculeatus by polyphasic taxonomy basing on morphological identification, and ITS-5.8S rDNA and ß-tubulin gene phylogenetic analyses. Through the antagonistic test against the pathogenic strain Aspergillus aculeatus NP-1, the results showed that strain NEB had a good antagonistic activity against smut pathogen of Noni. By sequencing with Illumina HiSeq 2000, the draft genome of Paenibacillus sp. NEB was acquired, and 3 CDSs for glucanases were annotated and potentially correlated to the antagonistic activity of this strain. Using realtime-PCR method with specific primers to amplify the biocontrol gene, ß-1,3-1,4- glucanase gene (gluB), it was found in Paenibacillus polymyxa NEB. This study would provide a theoretical and microbial basis for the rationally developing and using Noni beneficial microbial inoculants against its pathogenic strain in the future.