Isoprene-emitting transgenic tobacco shapes root microbiome and enhances growth of co-cultivated non-emitting plants

Isoprene-emitting transgenic tobacco shapes root microbiome and enhances growth of co-cultivated non-emitting plants | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 23 December 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Isoprene-emitting transgenic tobacco shapes root microbiome and enhances growth of co-cultivated non-emitting plants Authors : Manuel Bellucci , Mohammad Golam Mostofa , Gian Benucci , Ahmad Humayan Kabir , Imran Khan , Marco Lombardi 0000-0002-5508-1974 , Vittoria Locato , Gergory Bonito , Loreto F , and Thomas Sharkey 0000-0002-4423-3223 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176646804.47780429/v1 278 views 149 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Isoprene is the most abundant biogenic volatile organic compound emitted by terrestrial vegetation. Here we report on isoprene’s effect on root-associated microbiomes. Using isoprene emitting (IE) transgenic tobacco and isogenic non-emitting (NE) controls, we performed co-cultivation experiments in natural soil and analyzed plant phenotypes and growth alongside bacterial and fungal communities across root, rhizosphere, and soil niches. NE plants co-cultivated with IE neighbors displayed increased shoot and root biomass, suggesting interactive belowground functions of isoprene. Amplicon sequencing revealed that IE plants had more growth-promoting microbiota in root and rhizosphere compared with NE plants. Both bacterial and fungal growth-promoting microbiota were enriched in IE and NE plants grown in the same pot. However, isoprene-fumigated plant-free soils did not replicate these shifts, indicating that plant–microbe interactions are required for the modulation of the soil microbiome positions. Our results reveal that isoprene acts as a belowground cue influencing microbiome assembly and indirectly enhancing growth in neighboring plants. This work uncovers a potential ecological role for isoprene, highlighting how plant-derived isoprene can mediate plant–plant–microbiome interactions and contribute to community-level processes in the rhizosphere. Supplementary Material File (2025_10_10_table 1.docx) Download 16.99 KB File (2025_10_10_table 2.docx) Download 21.17 KB File (2025_12_17_isoprene and soil microbiome.docx) Download 139.92 KB File (fig_8 caption.docx) Download 7.40 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 23 December 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords isoprene metagenomics rhizosphere signaling vocs volatile emissions Authors Affiliations Manuel Bellucci Michigan State University View all articles by this author Mohammad Golam Mostofa SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Department of Chemistry View all articles by this author Gian Benucci Michigan State University View all articles by this author Ahmad Humayan Kabir Lamar University View all articles by this author Imran Khan SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Department of Chemistry View all articles by this author Marco Lombardi 0000-0002-5508-1974 Aarhus Universitet Institut for Agrookologi View all articles by this author Vittoria Locato Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma Biblioteca View all articles by this author Gergory Bonito Michigan State University View all articles by this author Loreto F Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Biologia View all articles by this author Thomas Sharkey 0000-0002-4423-3223 [email protected] Michigan State University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 278 views 149 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Manuel Bellucci, Mohammad Golam Mostofa, Gian Benucci, et al. Isoprene-emitting transgenic tobacco shapes root microbiome and enhances growth of co-cultivated non-emitting plants. Authorea . 23 December 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176646804.47780429/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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