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<p>The medicinal plant <i>Withania somnifera</i> roots have commercial significance based on their size and withanolide content. Biotic and abiotic stresses are known to induce withanolide biosynthesis. In this study, we demonstrate a new strategy to increase the root biomass and withanolide content by introducing a community of cyanobacteria as endophytes. A cyanobacterial community was introduced into the plant roots of young seedlings. Light microscopy confirmed the presence of bacterial endophytes within the root tissues. Metagenomic analysis of surface-sterilized roots showed that 98.7% of the microbial community belonged to the phylum Cyanobacteria. The ten most abundant cyanobacterial species identified are known to fix atmospheric nitrogen or to produce auxin-like plant hormones. Roots colonized by cyanobacterial endophytes had greater fresh weight and dry weight compared to the control group. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed the upregulation of stress-responsive genes such as cycloartenol synthase and cytochrome P450. HPLC analysis revealed that the withanolides, such as withaferin A and withanolide A, were significantly synthesized more in endophytes-occupied plants. We hypothesize that the root-associated cyanobacterial community simultaneously promotes plant growth and triggers stress responses that enhance withanolide biosynthesis. In conclusion, we propose that the cyanobacterial community can be used as endophytes to increase the root biomass and boost the synthesis of pharmaceutically significant withanolide in <i>W. somnifera.</i></p>

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Root-associated cyanobacteria enhance biomass and withanolide production in Withania somnifera via stress-induced pathways

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月17日

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  • Anjumaran Kavitha,
  • S. Sheik Asraf,
  • Karuppaiah Palanichelvam

摘要

The medicinal plant Withania somnifera roots have commercial significance based on their size and withanolide content. Biotic and abiotic stresses are known to induce withanolide biosynthesis. In this study, we demonstrate a new strategy to increase the root biomass and withanolide content by introducing a community of cyanobacteria as endophytes. A cyanobacterial community was introduced into the plant roots of young seedlings. Light microscopy confirmed the presence of bacterial endophytes within the root tissues. Metagenomic analysis of surface-sterilized roots showed that 98.7% of the microbial community belonged to the phylum Cyanobacteria. The ten most abundant cyanobacterial species identified are known to fix atmospheric nitrogen or to produce auxin-like plant hormones. Roots colonized by cyanobacterial endophytes had greater fresh weight and dry weight compared to the control group. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed the upregulation of stress-responsive genes such as cycloartenol synthase and cytochrome P450. HPLC analysis revealed that the withanolides, such as withaferin A and withanolide A, were significantly synthesized more in endophytes-occupied plants. We hypothesize that the root-associated cyanobacterial community simultaneously promotes plant growth and triggers stress responses that enhance withanolide biosynthesis. In conclusion, we propose that the cyanobacterial community can be used as endophytes to increase the root biomass and boost the synthesis of pharmaceutically significant withanolide in W. somnifera.