<div>Background: Dates palm is one of the most economically important plant mainly cultivated in Northern Africa, Middle East and South Asia. India is the largest importer of date fruit. In India, Dates palm are cultivated majorly in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Dates farmers facing several problem in India due to lack of scientific resources. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are naturally associated with plants and it improves plant growth and yield by providing growth supplements, increasing tolerance to stressful conditions and providing resistance to fungal/bacterial diseases. We have isolated a PGPR belonging to Exiguobacterium species TNDT2 from Indian dates palm Phoenix dactylifera, in Dindigul region, Tamilnadu, India. The organism&rsquo;s genome was sequenced and identified several potential plant growth promoting (PGP) genes.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The organisms genome was sequenced using Whole genome shotgun sequencing method in Illumina platform. Sequences are analysed using various bioinformatics tools and assembled using Velvet assembler. Contigs are annotated using RAST server and deposited in NCBI.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The isolated strain revealed various genetic determinants required for plant growth promotion. This study presents the first report of Exiguobacterium TNDT2 genome from Dates tree rhizosphere. Whole genome analysis and genome annotation reveals that, its genome consist of a 2,891,840 bp chromosome encoding over 3062 proteins, with a 51.63% GC content. Strain TNDT2 encodes a wide repertoire of proteins for plant growth promotion, heavy metal detoxification (cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper and tellurite), Multi-drug resistance and stress resistance (Heat, cold and salt). Based on this study, Exiguobacterium sp. TNDT2 can be recognized as an important organism with a potential to be incorporated into agricultural practice of&nbsp;Date palm.</div>

<div>Whole Genome Sequencing and Genome Annotation of PGPR &lsquo;Exiguobacterium sp. TNDT2&rsquo; Isolated from Dates Palm Tree Rhizospheric Soil</div>

<div>Background: Biofloc technology is a minimal or zero water exchange technology which exerts beneficial effects on water quality, improves feed conversion ratio by recycling microbial protein in the culture of commercially important finfishes and shellfishes. This culture technique also improves the pigmentation in the ornamental fish culture. The presence of pigment producing bacteria and the absorption of the pigments by the ornamental fishes under biofloc technology would pave a long way to boost the production and export market of the high value fishes. Therefore, the present study evaluated the use of bacterial pigments isolated from the biofloc culture in the diets of Swordtail ornamental fish for its colouration and pigment absorption ability. 
 
Methods: A 30 days trial was conducted to evaluate the colour enhancement in swordtail through the supplementation of pigment produced from the bacteria in their diets. Swordtail fishes (1.2 &plusmn; 0.01 g) were stocked in 100 litres tanks (20 nos / tank) in triplicates. Fish fed with normal diet served as control and diet supplemented with pigment (50 mg/kg) isolated from the bacteria Exiguobacterium profundum (T1), Chryseobacterium joostei (T2), Staphylococcus pasteuri (T3), Staphylococcus arlettae (T4) served as treatments. The characteristic features of the pigments isolated from the four different bacteria were checked and showed enhanced antibacterial, total antioxidant activity and the reductive ability. 
 
Result: Significant difference was observed in water quality parameters except temperature between the experimental groups. Growth parameters showed significant difference between control and treatment. Highest carotenoid concentration was found in fishes fed with pigments extracted from Staphylococcus pasteuri compared to other experimental groups. The present study proved the incorporation of bacterial pigments in the diets of Swordtail enhanced the total carotenoid concentration.</div>

<div>Characterisation of Pigment Producing Bacteria Isolated from Bio Floc Ponds and Its Colour Enhancement Effect in Xiphophorus helleri</div>