Metabarcoding data: Full-length 16S rRNA sequence of endophytic bacteria in the root of asymptomatic and blast-symptomatic rice plants (Oryza sativa, L.)

There is a sustained demand for biofertilizers to enhance crop productivity. Endophytic bacteria associated with disease-tolerant rice varieties offer significant potential as biofertilizers; however, the bacteriome diversity within these plants remains underexplored. This dataset presents full-length 16S metagenomic sequences of endophytic bacteria isolated from the roots of blast-infected and uninfected rice plants. Root samples were processed and subjected to surface sterilisation. Following total genomic DNA extraction, sequencing was performed using 16S ribosomal RNA primers via the high-throughput Oxford Nanopore Technologies platform. The raw sequence data were filtered for quality control using NanoFilt. Subsequently, the sequences were aligned against the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) 16S RefSeq database to identify the species of the endophytic root bacteria. The data associated with this project have been registered in the NCBI BioProject database under accession number PRJNA992961. The dataset comprises two distinct sample groups, each analysed in duplicate, with sequencing yields ranging from 17.7 to 20.3 Mb. Consequently, this dataset provides valuable insights regarding the comparative composition of endophytic bacteria inhabiting healthy roots versus those found in blast-infected rice. Characterizing this diversity, particularly within healthy rice plants, is essential for foundational research underpinning the future development of biofertilizers<i>.</i>