First genomic report of Enterobacter mori strain Pna8 from Pandanus conoideus with antagonistic activity against plant wilt pathogen Fusarium odoratissimum and Ralstonia solanacearum.

Plant wilt diseases are among the most destructive threats to global agriculture, largely due to the rapid adaptive capacity and treatment resistance of their causal pathogens. Endophytic bacteria represent a promising, sustainable alternative for disease management. Here, we report the first isolation and characterization of an endophytic bacterium, Enterobacter mori strain Pna8, from Pandanus conoideus, a tropical plant whose microbiome has remained unexplored. Strain Pna8 displayed strong antagonistic activity, inhibiting the fungal pathogen Fusarium odoratissimum by 55.9% and suppressing the growth of the bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, demonstrating dual biocontrol potential against both fungal and bacterial wilt diseases. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 4.81 Mb genome comprising 4,433 coding sequences enriched in functions related to carbohydrate metabolism, phytohormone biosynthesis, phosphate solubilization, and stress tolerance. Importantly, Pna8 lacks pectinolytic CAZymes commonly associated with pathogenic E. mori, supporting its non-destructive, endophytic lifestyle. The genome also encodes unique biosynthetic gene clusters, including a lassopeptide absent from pathogenic relatives and siderophore variants related to frederiksenibactin. Comparative genomic analysis identified 119 singleton genes involved in transcriptional regulation, ion transport, and biofilm formation, indicating niche-driven evolution and ecological specialization. Collectively, these results highlight E. mori Pna8 as a novel and promising biocontrol resource for sustainable agriculture and tropical crop protection.