GENOMIC EXPLORATION OF Enterobacter hormaechei OYAS29: A POTENTIAL ALLY FOR SUSTAINABLE PLANT GROWTH

There is insufficient information showing that Enterobacter species that promote plant development are important for improving plants' vegetative growth. Enterobacter hormaechei, in contrast to Enterobacter cloacae, has received little research attention while having enormous promise for promoting plant development. This study conducts a thorough genomic exploration of Enterobacter hormaechei OYAS29, a potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) isolated from an undisturbed and uncontaminated farmland at the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Through the application of cutting-edge sequencing technologies and bioinformatics evaluations, we decipher Enterobacter hormaechei OYAS29’s genomic characteristics, highlighting its genetic makeup that promotes sustainable plant growth. The genome falls within the superkingdom Bacteria and contains 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 71 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4,083 protein-coding sequences (CDS). The annotation included 3,657 proteins with assigned functions, alongside 426 hypothetical proteins. Among the functional proteins, 851 were associated with KEGG pathways, 979 had Gene Ontology (GO) assignments, and 1,203 possessed Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers. Additionally, We found several genes, including trpABCFDRS, Ipdc, patB/malY, trps, and mtr, which are linked to the synthesis of IAA and tryptophan synthase, the nar and nir gene cluster (narHLKX, nirDB, and nasR) linked to nitrate reduction and nitrite oxidation. Given its pristine environmental origin and distinct genomic makeup, Enterobacter hormaechei OYAS29 is a promising ally for ecologically friendly and successful plant growth promotion in agricultural contexts. This study advances sustainable agriculture techniques that are adapted to regional ecosystems and contribute to the increasing body of knowledge on indigenous PGPRs.