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Background and Aim <p>Increasing climate-induced floods threaten crop productivity. This study examines whether exopolysaccharides (EPS) from <i>Rhizobium tropici</i> can enhance flooding tolerance in <i>Zea mays</i> by improving soil structure and plant physiological resilience.</p> Methods <p>A controlled pot experiment evaluated the effects of varying EPS concentrations (0.00‰, 0.25‰, 0.50‰, and 1.00‰) under three moisture regimes: 60% field capacity, saturation, and flooding.</p> Results <p>Results revealed that 0.50‰ EPS significantly increased soil aggregates larger than 53&#xa0;μm, enhancing soil stability and mitigating the adverse effects of flooding. EPS-treated plants exhibited 15.2% and 13.4% higher chlorophyll a and b levels, respectively, alongside a 30.9% increase in antiradical activity (ARA), and reduced malondialdehyde content, alleviating oxidative stress and maintaining membrane integrity. Additionally, EPS increased catalase activity, further enhancing antioxidant defenses under flooding conditions. Partial least squares structural equation modeling highlighted that aggregates larger than 53&#xa0;μm positively influenced biomass accumulation, with path coefficients of 0.18 for micro-aggregates (53–250&#xa0;μm) and 0.15 and 0.07 for macro-aggregates (250–2000&#xa0;μm and &gt; 2000&#xa0;μm, respectively). Among physiological indicators, chlorophyll a (path coefficient = 0.22) and chlorophyll b (path coefficient = 0.18) had direct positive effects on biomass, underscoring the role of photosynthetic efficiency in mitigating flooding stress. Additionally, ARA exhibited a positive effect on biomass (path coefficient = 0.06), emphasizing its role in oxidative stress reduction.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings suggest that EPS enhances flood resilience by improving soil structure and plant responses, providing a potential strategy for sustainable crop production under climate stress.</p>

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Exopolysaccharides from Rhizobium tropici improve flooding tolerance of Zea mays seedlings: Insights from a controlled pot study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月24日

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  • Liang Xiao,
  • Xinyun Xie,
  • Steve L. Larson,
  • John H. Ballard,
  • Qinku Zhang,
  • Jing Nie,
  • Huimin Zhang,
  • Guodong Yuan,
  • Fengxiang X. Han

摘要

Background and Aim

Increasing climate-induced floods threaten crop productivity. This study examines whether exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Rhizobium tropici can enhance flooding tolerance in Zea mays by improving soil structure and plant physiological resilience.

Methods

A controlled pot experiment evaluated the effects of varying EPS concentrations (0.00‰, 0.25‰, 0.50‰, and 1.00‰) under three moisture regimes: 60% field capacity, saturation, and flooding.

Results

Results revealed that 0.50‰ EPS significantly increased soil aggregates larger than 53 μm, enhancing soil stability and mitigating the adverse effects of flooding. EPS-treated plants exhibited 15.2% and 13.4% higher chlorophyll a and b levels, respectively, alongside a 30.9% increase in antiradical activity (ARA), and reduced malondialdehyde content, alleviating oxidative stress and maintaining membrane integrity. Additionally, EPS increased catalase activity, further enhancing antioxidant defenses under flooding conditions. Partial least squares structural equation modeling highlighted that aggregates larger than 53 μm positively influenced biomass accumulation, with path coefficients of 0.18 for micro-aggregates (53–250 μm) and 0.15 and 0.07 for macro-aggregates (250–2000 μm and > 2000 μm, respectively). Among physiological indicators, chlorophyll a (path coefficient = 0.22) and chlorophyll b (path coefficient = 0.18) had direct positive effects on biomass, underscoring the role of photosynthetic efficiency in mitigating flooding stress. Additionally, ARA exhibited a positive effect on biomass (path coefficient = 0.06), emphasizing its role in oxidative stress reduction.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that EPS enhances flood resilience by improving soil structure and plant responses, providing a potential strategy for sustainable crop production under climate stress.