Scientists complete genome sequence of Bt. strain Hd521

A team of scientists from the Rice Research Institute of Sichuan Agricultural University in China has completed the genome sequence of the Bacillus thuringiensis strain HD521.
 

The sequencing project revealed that strain HD521 has one chromosome and six circular plasmids. The research team found that strain HD521 shows maroon colony which is different from most of the B. thuringiensis strains. Strain HD521 also displays an ability to inhibit Rhizoctonia solani, a plant sheath blight disease pathogen. Strain HD521 can form crystalline proteins consisting of three cry7 genes that have an insecticidal activity against Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata larva (Coleoptera).
 

For more details, read the open access paper published in the journal Standards in Genomic Sciences.