Sergio de los Santos-Villalobos

Sergio de los Santos-Villalobos


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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7 July 2025 in Plants
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ABAlina Escalante Beltrán
Alina Escalante Beltrán
Pamela Helué Morales SandovalPamela Helué Morales Sandoval
Pamela Helué Morales Sandoval
Claudia Berenice Gonzalez AstorgaClaudia Berenice Gonzalez Astorga
Claudia Berenice Gonzalez Astorga
AMAmelia C. Montoya-Martinez
Amelia C. Montoya-Martinez
ECEdgar A. Cubedo-Ruiz
Edgar A. Cubedo-Ruiz
SSSergio de los Santos-Villalobos
Sergio de los Santos-Villalobos
Strain 53B2 was isolated from a commercial maize (Zea mays L.) field located in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico. Its draft genome comprises 5,844,085 bp, with a G + C content of 37.5%, an N50 of 602,122 bp, an L50 of 4, and a total of 129 contigs. Genome-based taxonomic affiliation showed this strain belonged to Priestia megaterium. Genome annotation revealed 6394 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), organized into 332 subsystems. Among these, several CDSs were associated with traits relevant to plant growth promotion, including categories such as iron acquisition and metabolism (40 CDSs) and secondary metabolism (6 CDSs), among others. In vitro metabolic assays supported genomic predictions, confirming the strain’s ability to produce IAA, solubilize phosphate, and tolerate abiotic stress. Additionally, greenhouse trials demonstrated that inoculation with Priestia megaterium 53B2 significantly enhanced plant growth parameters (p ≤ 0.05) versus uninoculated control: stem height increased by 22.8%, root length by 35.7%, stem and root fresh weights by 39.6% and 66.1%, and stem and root dry weights by 33.7% and 44.7%, respectively. This first report on the beneficial potential of Priestia megaterium 53B2 highlights its potential as a sustainable bioinoculant for maize cultivation.