Ethylene signals through an ethylene receptor to modulate biofilm formation and root colonization in a beneficial plant-associated bacterium

What is it about?

Ethylene is a plant hormone that affects plant growth, development, and responses to stresses. How non-plant species respond to ethylene is poorly studied. We characterized an ethylene receptor and responses to ethylene in a beneficial plant-associated soil bacterium.

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The results of our study show that one plant-associated bacteria species contains functional ethylene receptors. Very low levels of ethylene change the metabolic balance in these bacteria and lead to alterations in biofilm formation and root colonization. Our study indicates that ethylene could act as a cross-kingdom signal from plants to regulate colonization of plants by microbes. These results could help us improve beneficial plant-microbe interactions.