Soil microorganisms coexist and interact showing antagonistic or mutualistic behaviors. Here, we show that an environmental strain of
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Abstract Bacillus subtilis undergoes heritable phenotypic variation upon interaction with the soil fungal pathogenSetophoma terrestris (ST). Metabolomics analysis revealed differential profiles inB. subtilis before (pre-ST) and after (post-ST) interacting with the fungus, which paradoxically involved the absence of lipopeptides surfactin and plipastatin and yet acquisition of antifungal activity in post-ST variants. The profile of volatile compounds showed that 2-heptanone and 2-octanone were the most discriminating metabolites present at higher concentrations in post-ST during the interaction process. Both ketones showed strong antifungal activity, which was lost with the addition of exogenous surfactin. Whole-genome analyses indicate that mutations in ComQPXA quorum-sensing system, constituted the genetic bases of post-ST conversion, which rewiredB. subtilis metabolism towards the depletion of surfactins and the production of antifungal compounds during its antagonistic interaction withS. terrestris .
