Reclassification of the biocontrol agents BY-2 and Tu-100 as and insights into the genomic and specialized metabolite diversity of the species.

The genomes of two historical species strains isolated from the roots of oilseed rape and used routinely in PR China as biocontrol agents to suppress disease were sequenced. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization analyses demonstrated that they were originally misclassified as and now belong to the bacterial species . A broader ANI analysis of available genomes identified 292 genomes that were then subjected to core gene analysis and phylogenomics. Prediction and dereplication of specialized metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) defined the prevalence of multiple antimicrobial-associated BGCs and highlighted the natural product potential of . By defining the core and accessory antimicrobial biosynthetic capacity of the species, we offer an in-depth understanding of natural product capacity to facilitate the selection and testing of strains for use as biological control agents.