1 research outputs found
Metagenomic Identification of Bacillus thuringiensis within the Bacterial Microflora of Soils under Rice and Wheat Cultivation in Diré, Mali
No full textAims: This study aimed to identify and characterize the presence of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) within the soil bacterial microflora under rice and wheat cultivation in Diré, northern Mali, where pest pressure is notably low.
Study Design: A cross-sectional metagenomic survey of agricultural soils.
Place and Duration of Study: Agricultural fields in Diré, Mali, sampled during the 2024 dry season.
Methodology: Thirty surface soil samples were collected from five plots. DNA was extracted and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq. Taxonomic classification was performed using DADA2 and OneCodex.
Results: Firmicutes dominated the bacterial community (61%), followed by Proteobacteria (14%) and Actinobacteria (13%). Bacillus thuringiensis represented 0.48% of Bacillus reads, including insecticidal serovars kurstaki, morrisoni, and indiana.
Conclusion: The natural presence of Bt strains in Diré soils may contribute to reduced pest incidence. These findings support the potential of indigenous Bt strains as biocontrol agents adapted to Sahelian agroecosystems
