Characterization and improvement of curdlan produced by a high-yield mutant of Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749 based on whole-genome analysis.

•The curdlan biosynthesis mechanism can be determined based on whole-genome analysis.•Mutant CGMCC 11546 produced 1.34-fold more curdlan than the WT strain.•The maximum curdlan production was 47.97 ± 0.57 g/L (16 % increase) after optimization.•Deletion of exoK and exsH increased the gel strength and molecular weight of curdlan.•Noodles supplemented with curdlan from ΔexoK-exsH had excellent eating quality.