Genome Sequence Resource of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> Strain H166, a Potential Biological Control Agent for Apple Replant Disease

Bacillus velezensis strain H166, isolated from the apple rhizosphere, exhibits strong biocontrol efficacy against apple replant disease (ARD), a complex soilborne disease in which Fusarium oxysporum can act as an important fungal pathogen. To elucidate the underlying biocontrol mechanisms, a high-quality genome assembly of strain H166 was generated using PacBio HiFi sequencing. The genome of strain H166 consists of a single circular chromosome of 3,929,791 bp with a GC content of 46.5%, and contains 4,035 protein-coding genes, 86 tRNA genes, 27 rRNA genes, and 16 sRNA genes. Twelve secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters were identified, including those associated with fengycin, surfactin, and bacillaene biosynthesis. These gene clusters are presumed to be closely associated with the biocontrol functions of this strain against Apple Replant Disease. The genome sequence provides important foundational data for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the biocontrol activity of B. velezensis strain H166.