Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis

Background and purpose: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (commonly referred to as EVs) are proteolipidic structures detached from bacterial membranes into the surrounding environment. They participate in diverse biological processes, including interdomain communication as EV encapsulation concentrat...

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Authors: Moreno De Castro, Natalia, Silva-Nunes, Rafaela Leopoldina, Ayala García, Paula, Herrero Gómez, Irene, Rodríguez Carvajal, Miguel Ángel, López Baena, Francisco Javier, Vinardell González, José María, Jiménez Guerrero, Irene, Borrero de Acuña, José Manuel, Pérez Montaño, Francisco de Asís
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::e67f20761cdc6e4b2c74ba7b0c441f06
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/184725
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110465
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Rhizobium Legume
Symbiosis
Extracellular membrane vesicles
Plant growth-promoting bacteria
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network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
title Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
spellingShingle Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
Moreno De Castro, Natalia
Rhizobium Legume
Symbiosis
Extracellular membrane vesicles
Plant growth-promoting bacteria
title_short Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
title_full Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
title_fullStr Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
title_full_unstemmed Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
title_sort Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosis
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Moreno De Castro, Natalia
Silva-Nunes, Rafaela Leopoldina
Ayala García, Paula
Herrero Gómez, Irene
Rodríguez Carvajal, Miguel Ángel
López Baena, Francisco Javier
Vinardell González, José María
Jiménez Guerrero, Irene
Borrero de Acuña, José Manuel
Pérez Montaño, Francisco de Asís
author Moreno De Castro, Natalia
author_facet Moreno De Castro, Natalia
Silva-Nunes, Rafaela Leopoldina
Ayala García, Paula
Herrero Gómez, Irene
Rodríguez Carvajal, Miguel Ángel
López Baena, Francisco Javier
Vinardell González, José María
Jiménez Guerrero, Irene
Borrero de Acuña, José Manuel
Pérez Montaño, Francisco de Asís
author_role author
author2 Silva-Nunes, Rafaela Leopoldina
Ayala García, Paula
Herrero Gómez, Irene
Rodríguez Carvajal, Miguel Ángel
López Baena, Francisco Javier
Vinardell González, José María
Jiménez Guerrero, Irene
Borrero de Acuña, José Manuel
Pérez Montaño, Francisco de Asís
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Microbiología
Química Orgánica
Junta de Andalucía
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). España
Agencia Estatal de Investigación. España
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologico. Brasil
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Brasil
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Brasil
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Rhizobium Legume
Symbiosis
Extracellular membrane vesicles
Plant growth-promoting bacteria
topic Rhizobium Legume
Symbiosis
Extracellular membrane vesicles
Plant growth-promoting bacteria
description Background and purpose: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (commonly referred to as EVs) are proteolipidic structures detached from bacterial membranes into the surrounding environment. They participate in diverse biological processes, including interdomain communication as EV encapsulation concentrates signaling molecules for efficient delivery to target eukaryotic cells. While the rhizobium-legume symbiosis represents one of nature's most intimate partnerships, the role of rhizobial EVs, particularly as carriers of symbiotic signaling molecules, remains poorly understood. The primary aim of this study was to identify Nod Factors (NFs) within rhizobial EVs, exploring their potential as molecular inoculants to enhance the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Methods: Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 EVs were characterized to confirm their integrity and yield. Their NF content was determined and quantified, comparing genistein-induced and non-induced cultures to identify specific chemical signatures. The biological impact of these EVs was validated through nodule primordia visualization and controlled growth chamber assays in Glycine max and Lotus japonicus. A two-year field experiment was conducted in South Brazil with 10 different treatments to explore the soybean (G. max Brasmax Zeus Ipro) responses to inoculation with plant-growth promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense AbV5 and AbV6; Bradyrhizobium japonicum CCT 4065, SEMIA 5079, SEMIA 5080 and SEMIA 586) with or without HH103 EVs. Results: Our investigation explores the role of bacterial EVs produced by S. fredii HH103 in enhancing the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legume hosts, particularly soybeans. Our research demonstrates that genistein, an HH103 nod gene-inducing flavonoid, triggers hypervesiculation in this bacterium, which leads to a significant increase in the production of EVs transporting high molecular weight NFs. Interestingly, our findings indicate that adding these NF-loaded EVs not only promotes nodule primordia formation but also improves nodulation in soybean and in the model plant Lotus japonicus under controlled laboratory conditions. Notably, while EVs derived from non-induced cultures failed to enhance the number of nodules, they also exerted a positive effect on general plant growth parameters. Moreover, the application of NF-loaded EVs significantly increases soybean crop yield in field experiments, especially in the absence of water deficit. Conclusions: Results point to the role of these plant-growth-promoting vesicles in promoting legume yield. Therefore, our study proposes the use of rhizobial EVs as a sustainable agricultural strategy to optimize the rhizobium-legume symbiosis and boost crop productivity.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/184725
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110465
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/184725
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110465
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Field Crops Research, 342, 110465.
EMERGIA20_00048
ProyExcel_00450
PID2021–122395OAI00
TED2021–130357B-I00
PID2020–118279RA-I00
PID2022–141156OB-I00
312480/ 2020–2
22/2551–0001644–8
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
instname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
instname_str Universidad de Sevilla (US)
reponame_str idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
collection idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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spelling Plant growth promoting vesicles: Molecular inoculants to enhance rhizobium-legume symbiosisMoreno De Castro, NataliaSilva-Nunes, Rafaela LeopoldinaAyala García, PaulaHerrero Gómez, IreneRodríguez Carvajal, Miguel ÁngelLópez Baena, Francisco JavierVinardell González, José MaríaJiménez Guerrero, IreneBorrero de Acuña, José ManuelPérez Montaño, Francisco de AsísRhizobium LegumeSymbiosisExtracellular membrane vesiclesPlant growth-promoting bacteriaBackground and purpose: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (commonly referred to as EVs) are proteolipidic structures detached from bacterial membranes into the surrounding environment. They participate in diverse biological processes, including interdomain communication as EV encapsulation concentrates signaling molecules for efficient delivery to target eukaryotic cells. While the rhizobium-legume symbiosis represents one of nature's most intimate partnerships, the role of rhizobial EVs, particularly as carriers of symbiotic signaling molecules, remains poorly understood. The primary aim of this study was to identify Nod Factors (NFs) within rhizobial EVs, exploring their potential as molecular inoculants to enhance the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Methods: Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 EVs were characterized to confirm their integrity and yield. Their NF content was determined and quantified, comparing genistein-induced and non-induced cultures to identify specific chemical signatures. The biological impact of these EVs was validated through nodule primordia visualization and controlled growth chamber assays in Glycine max and Lotus japonicus. A two-year field experiment was conducted in South Brazil with 10 different treatments to explore the soybean (G. max Brasmax Zeus Ipro) responses to inoculation with plant-growth promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense AbV5 and AbV6; Bradyrhizobium japonicum CCT 4065, SEMIA 5079, SEMIA 5080 and SEMIA 586) with or without HH103 EVs. Results: Our investigation explores the role of bacterial EVs produced by S. fredii HH103 in enhancing the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legume hosts, particularly soybeans. Our research demonstrates that genistein, an HH103 nod gene-inducing flavonoid, triggers hypervesiculation in this bacterium, which leads to a significant increase in the production of EVs transporting high molecular weight NFs. Interestingly, our findings indicate that adding these NF-loaded EVs not only promotes nodule primordia formation but also improves nodulation in soybean and in the model plant Lotus japonicus under controlled laboratory conditions. Notably, while EVs derived from non-induced cultures failed to enhance the number of nodules, they also exerted a positive effect on general plant growth parameters. Moreover, the application of NF-loaded EVs significantly increases soybean crop yield in field experiments, especially in the absence of water deficit. Conclusions: Results point to the role of these plant-growth-promoting vesicles in promoting legume yield. Therefore, our study proposes the use of rhizobial EVs as a sustainable agricultural strategy to optimize the rhizobium-legume symbiosis and boost crop productivity.elsevierMicrobiologíaQuímica OrgánicaJunta de AndalucíaMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN). EspañaAgencia Estatal de Investigación. EspañaConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologico. BrasilCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). BrasilFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Brasil2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/184725https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110465reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésField Crops Research, 342, 110465. EMERGIA20_00048ProyExcel_00450PID2021–122395OAI00TED2021–130357B-I00PID2020–118279RA-I00PID2022–141156OB-I00312480/ 2020–222/2551–0001644–8info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:idus________::e67f20761cdc6e4b2c74ba7b0c441f062026-06-17T12:51:07Z
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