title: Genomic insights into the versatility of the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum amazonense.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The species Azospirillum amazonense belongs to a well-known genus of plant growth-promoting bacteria. This bacterium is found in association with several crops of economic importance; however, there is a lack of information on its physiology. In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of the genomic features of this species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genes of A. amazonense related to nitrogen/carbon metabolism, energy production, phytohormone production, transport, quorum sensing, antibiotic resistance, chemotaxis/motility and bacteriophytochrome biosynthesis were identified. Noteworthy genes were the nitrogen fixation genes and the nitrilase gene, which could be directly implicated in plant growth promotion, and the carbon fixation genes, which had previously been poorly investigated in this genus. One important finding was that some A. amazonense genes, like the nitrogenase genes and RubisCO genes, were closer phylogenetically to Rhizobiales members than to species of its own order.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The species A. amazonense presents a versatile repertoire of genes crucial for its plant-associated lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av, Bento Gonçalves, 9500 Campus do Vale, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
authors.forename: Luiz G P
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cecagno
authors.forename: Luciano A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Reolon
authors.forename: Franciele M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Maicon R S
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Ana T R
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Irene S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Schrank
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016949:Azospirillum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018441:Biofilms; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D023281:Genomics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics; D010834:Phytochrome / Q000378:metabolism; D063245:Plant Development; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010834:Phytochrome; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen