Complete genome sequence of the marine mangrove fungus Sarcopodium sp.QM3–1 confirmed its high potential for antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Mangroves, owing to their unique living environment, serve as an important source of natural bioactive compounds. Sarcopodium sp. QM3–1, a marine fungus isolated from mangrove sediments of Quanzhou Bay, exhibited antifungal activity against the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Magnaporthe oryzae. Whole-genome sequencing of this fungal strain revealed a genome size of 58,356,150 bp with 17,960 protein-coding genes, 539 tRNA genes, and 170 rRNA genes. Functional annotation identified a series of genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including several gene clusters associated with antimicrobial activity. Notably, twenty of these gene clusters were associated with the synthesis of known bioactive compounds, including terpene, polyketides (PKS), nonribosomal peptides (NRPS), β-lactones, and phosphonates. Our findings suggest that Sarcopodium sp. QM3–1 could be a promising candidate as a biocontrol agent for combating plant pathogens in agricultural fields.