Insight into Antifungal Metabolites from Bacillus stercoris 92p Against Banana Cordana Leaf Spot Caused by Neocordana musae

Banana crop ranks among the most crucial fruit and food crops in tropical and subtropical areas. Despite advancements in production technology, diseases such as cordana leaf spot, caused by <i>Neocordana musae</i>, remain a significant challenge, reducing productivity and quality. Traditional chemical controls are becoming less effective due to the development of resistance in target pathogens, which pose significant environmental and health concerns. Consequently, there is growing attention toward the development of biocontrol strategies. Here, we identified a new bacterial strain, <i>Bacillus stercoris</i> 92p, from the rhizosphere soil of banana. We evaluated its ability to suppress the growth of <i>N. musae</i> and other fungal pathogens that cause leaf spot disease in bananas. The inhibitory effect of <i>B. stercoris</i> 92p were checked using dual culture assays, microscopic observations, and pot experiments. Furthermore, the biocontrol mechanisms were investigated using whole-genome sequencing and biochemical analyses. The results showed that <i>B. stercoris</i> 92p exhibited significant antifungal activity against <i>N. musae</i> and other fungal pathogens, with inhibition rates exceeding 70%. Microscopic examination revealed significant morphological alterations in the hyphae and conidia of the tested pathogens. In pot experiments, <i>B. stercoris</i> 92p effectively reduced the severity of cordana leaf spot, achieving a biocontrol efficacy of 61.55%. Genomic analysis and biochemical tests indicated that <i>B. stercoris</i> 92p produces various antifungal compounds, including lipopeptides (fengycins and surfactins), hydrolytic enzymes (proteases and amylases), and phosphate-solubilizing metabolites. In conclusion, the study highlights that <i>B. stercoris</i> could potentially be used as a potential biological control agent against cordana leaf spot.