<i>Bacillus velezensis</i>, a new valuable source of bioactive molecules within plant microbiomes and natural weapons for the biocontrol of plant pathogens

<i>Bacillus</i> spp. are widely used as a biological agent in the management of crop diseases. <i>B. velezensis</i> is a novel species of the genus <i>Bacillus</i> that produces various secondary metabolites, shows a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities, and promotes plant growth. In addition, it is widely used for the biocontrol of plant diseases. Here, the discovery, classification, antimicrobial substances and related gene clusters, effect on microbiota, quorum sensing system, antagonistic mechanism, and application of <i>B. velezensis</i> are reviewed. This review summarizes the current knowledge, highlights existing problems regarding applications of <i>B. velezensis</i> for plant protection, and discusses future directions for research on this bacterial species. The present review will provide a useful reference for studies on <i>B. velezensis</i> and speed up the development of new formulations for its practical applications.