P-577 - Characterizing endophytes of wild relatives of crops as a potential bioresource for crop resilience in lettuce

Leveraging beneficial endophytes from wild relatives of crops can compensate for microbial losses in cultivated plants, a key strategy for enhancing resilience and reducing chemical inputs. We characterized a panel of endophytes isolated from healthy tissues of prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), a wild relative of domesticated lettuce (Lactuca sativa) for their potential functional roles in plant health and crop improvement. Four representative isolates (SY0032, SY1154, SY1167 and SY1483) were subcultured for genomic DNA extraction. Full genome sequences were generated with the Oxford Nanopore MinION and assembled by Flye v2.9.1. Metabolomes of bacterial cultures were characterized by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Genomic analysis revealed genetic diversity, suggesting distinct functional capabilities. AntiSMASH predictions identified distinctive secondary metabolite pathways in SY0032, including a N-siderophore pathway for iron sequestration and enhanced terpene biosynthesis linked to plant defense. Metabolomic analysis confirmed SY0032 exhibited the highest number of unique metabolic features. Mass spectrometry analyses did not detect known toxins or undesirable compounds produced by these bacteria, although though detection limits may have constrained this. These results suggest that bacterial endophytes from prickly lettuce, especially SY0032, could be valuable for enhancing resilience, defense, and quality in cultivated lettuce. This work highlights the potential of wild microbial symbionts as assets to improve crop performance.