Analysis of the whole FZB42 genome revealed an impressive
capability to produce a diverse spectrum of different secondary
metabolites aimed to suppress harmful microbes and nematodes
living within the plant rhizosphere (Chen et al., 2007). In total,
11 gene clusters (Table 1) representing more than 9% of the
genome are devoted to synthesizing antimicrobial metabolites
(Chen et al., 2009a; Borriss, 2013). By contrast, the genomes of
the closely related non-plant associated members of the B. subtilis
species complex devote only around 5% of their capacity in
synthesis of antimicrobials