Functional Genomics of a Zinc-Solubilising Kosakonia cowanii RL-16 and Its Application for Zinc Biofortification in Oryza sativa L.

Kosakonia cowanii RL-16 is linked to higher zinc availability in rice, boosting zinc content to 134.7 mg/kg (±0.6) versus 107.7 mg/kg (±1.6) under microcosm conditions.

• Why it matters: Zinc deficiency in rice is driven by low plant uptake, particularly in alkaline soils, so better zinc-solubilizing microbes are needed to improve micronutrient delivery.
• What they did: From 135 indigenous isolates, RL-16 was selected for zinc solubilization and PGP traits, then analyzed by whole-genome gene mining and tested in microcosms and field evaluations across two rice varieties.
• The result: RL-16 enhanced zinc translocation to seed (ZnSd) across both varieties, supporting its use for zinc biofortification through targeted, sustainable agricultural practices.

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