Space-mutated burkholderia cepacia JT79 microbial fertilizer for plant growth and soil-borne disease control

Overview

This project applies space mutation breeding to Burkholderia cepacia JT79, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) carried to space aboard the Long March 5 spacecraft in February 2020. The extreme space environment, including microgravity (one-millionth to one-hundredth of Earth's gravity) and high-energy particle radiation, is used to induce genetic mutations that may yield superior microbial strains. The resulting mutants will be developed into microbial fertilizers designed to promote plant growth and suppress soil-borne diseases, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides.

Technical specifications

Key features of the parent strain JT79:

• Produces siderophores (iron-chelating compounds) with an activity unit of 19.13, supporting plant nutrient uptake
• Solubilizes phosphate and potassium, and fixes atmospheric nitrogen
• Inhibits major soil-borne pathogens including Rhizoctonia solani (59.24%), Fusarium solani (56.76%), Sclerotium rolfsii (51.61%), and Fusarium oxysporum (63.80%)

Planned validation and development steps:

• Screening mutants based on enhanced phosphate solubilization and siderophore production
• Evaluating inhibitory activity of mutants against plant pathogenic fungi
• Optimizing fermentation conditions across different media formulations
• Testing biocontrol efficacy against soybean root rot pathogens using root-irrigation methods
• Formulating microbial solid fertilizer by combining mutant fermentation liquid with dry peat

Technology readiness level

The parent strain JT79 has been characterized and validated for its plant growth-promoting and pathogen-inhibiting capabilities through laboratory assays. The strain has completed space exposure aboard the Long March 5 spacecraft. The project is currently at the mutant screening and validation stage, with downstream work including fermentation optimization, greenhouse or field-level biocontrol trials, and fertilizer formulation still to be completed before commercial readiness.