Sphingobium yanoikuyae 41R9 Enhances Nitrogen Uptake by Modulating Transporter Genes and Root Development in Rapeseed.

Sphingobium yanoikuyae 41R9 significantly boosts nitrogen uptake and root development in rapeseed, increasing nitrogen use efficiency by up to 50%.

• Why it matters: Improving nitrogen use efficiency in crops is crucial for sustainable agriculture and reducing fertilizer dependence, yet the regulatory mechanisms of PGPRs like Sphingobium species remain unclear.
• What they did: Researchers isolated strain 41R9 from N-deficient rapeseed rhizosphere, performed genomic analysis, 15N tracer experiments, and transcriptome profiling to investigate its effects on nitrogen uptake and gene regulation.
• The result: Strain 41R9 enhanced N transporter gene expression, maintained jasmonic acid balance, and was attracted to root exudates, revealing mechanisms that could be exploited to improve crop nutrient efficiency.