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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits

Published on: February 10, 2023

Engineered Root Bacteria Release Plant-Available Phosphate from Phytate.

Christine N Shulse¹, Mansi Chovatia¹, Carolyn Agosto¹

¹Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California, USA.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology

|July 10, 2019

Summary

Engineered root bacteria can release plant-available phosphate from soil phytate, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. This synthetic biology approach enhances plant growth in phosphorus-limited conditions.

Keywords:

Pseudomonas organic phosphorus phytase phytate plant growth-promoting bacteria root colonization synthetic biology

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Last Updated: Jan 22, 2026

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Published on: January 18, 2017

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Plant Science
Biotechnology

Background:

Phosphate fertilizers are crucial for agriculture but are expensive and environmentally harmful.
Microbial phosphate solubilization offers a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Phytate is an abundant soil phosphate source often unavailable to plants.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer root bacteria capable of releasing plant-available orthophosphate from soil phytate.
To develop microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture and reduced fertilizer use.

Main Methods:

Identified and refactored 82 diverse phytase genes for optimal expression in Proteobacteria.
Synthesized and engineered phytase genes into three root-colonizing bacterial genomes.
Conducted liquid culture assays and tested engineered strains for plant growth promotion in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Main Results:

41 engineered strains demonstrated high phytate hydrolysis in liquid culture.
12 strains across three bacterial hosts enhanced Arabidopsis thaliana growth with phytate as the sole phosphate source.
Demonstrated successful application of DNA synthesis for creating novel phosphate-solubilizing bacteria.

Conclusions:

Engineered root-associated microbes can effectively solubilize phytate, releasing plant-available phosphate.
Synthetic biology approaches can generate beneficial plant-associated microbes for sustainable agriculture.
This study is a foundational step towards developing 'phosphate-mining' bacteria for crop systems.