Bacterial Cellulose Boosts Plant Healing, Opening New Frontiers in Agricultural Regeneration

By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMFeb 24 2025

The ability of plants to repair and regrow tissues can be the difference between survival and death. But what if a simple bacterial product could significantly improve this natural repair process?

In a recent study published in Science Advances, a team of Spanish researchers revealed that bacterial cellulose (BC), a material widely used in biomedical applications, can stimulate wound healing and tissue regeneration in plants.

This discovery opens new possibilities for agriculture, where BC could enhance plant recovery after injuries caused by pests, weather, or human intervention.

​​​​​​​Study: Exogenous bacterial cellulose induces plant tissue regeneration through the regulation of cytokinin and defense networks. Image Credit: cldemara/Shutterstock.com

Wound Repair in Plants

Plants possess an impressive capacity to regenerate damaged tissues. They can repair wounds, grow new roots, or even regenerate entire organs. This is driven by signaling pathways involving hormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, which facilitate callus tissue formation, leading to cell proliferation and reprogramming.

However, regeneration is usually limited to specific plant regions, such as meristematic tissues, where active cell division occurs.

Non-meristematic tissues often struggle to regenerate efficiently. Moreover, while the complex gene networks controlling plant repair are being extensively mapped, the precise links between wound responses, defense systems, and regeneration remain unclear.

The Current Study

In the present study, the researchers conducted experiments using BC films derived from the cellulose-producing bacteria Komagataeibacter xylinus. The study focused on two model plants: Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana.

The leaves of these plants were wounded using razor blade cuts, and BC films were placed over the wounds on some leaves, while other leaves were left uncovered as controls. The healing process was monitored for seven days. The team compared the wound closure rates between BC-treated and untreated leaves.

High-resolution imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, were used to examine cell proliferation and tissue formation at wound sites. The researchers also measured starch accumulation and chloroplast activity in the newly formed tissue to confirm cell functionality.

Additionally, the gene expression in wounded areas was analyzed using ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing at various time points.

The goal was to identify the genes activated by BC treatment. Differential gene expression analysis and clustering techniques were also used to determine the key gene groups associated with cytokinin signaling, defense responses, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation.

The role of the hormones auxin and cytokinin in the regeneration process was also examined by subjecting mutant Arabidopsis lines defective in cytokinin and auxin signaling to BC treatment.

Additionally, ROS, specifically superoxide anions, were detected using histochemical staining and fluorescence microscopy to assess oxidative stress levels at wound sites.

Similarly, promoter-reporter fusion constructs for WRKY transcription factor 8 (WRKY8) and glutathione S-transferase F7 (GSTF7) genes were introduced into plants to observe their expression patterns under BC treatment.

In contrast, mutant lines lacking these genes were analyzed to determine the functional roles of these genes in BC-mediated regeneration.

Results

The study found that BC significantly enhanced wound healing in plants. In Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana, wounds covered with BC healed much more efficiently than uncovered wounds. Moreover, BC application promoted the formation of new cells at the wound site, leading to the closure of the cut tissue.

The researchers discovered that BC activated a unique regenerative program in plants, distinct from the typical callus-mediated regeneration. The gene expression analysis revealed that BC induced cytokinin signaling, which is known to stimulate cell division and regeneration.

The cytokinin-deficient mutant plants displayed reduced regeneration under BC, confirming its importance in the process.

Additionally, BC triggered the activation of plant defense genes, particularly those involved in oxidative stress responses. An increase in ROS, especially superoxide anions, was detected at the wound site. These ROS are known to promote cell proliferation during early regeneration stages.

Another key finding was the identification of WRKY8, a transcription factor, as a central regulator of this BC-mediated pathway.

WRKY8 controls the expression of GSTF7, a gene involved in ROS detoxification and homeostasis. Mutants lacking WRKY8 or GSTF7 showed impaired regeneration and lower ROS levels at the wound site.

Moreover, the regenerative effect of BC was not solely hormone-driven. Physical properties of BC, such as increased water retention and structural support, were believed to contribute to its effectiveness in plant wound healing. However, the full complexity of the molecular interactions driving BC-mediated regeneration remains to be elucidated.

Conclusions

Overall, the research demonstrated that BC promotes plant wound healing by activating a novel regeneration pathway. This pathway involves cytokinin signaling, reactive oxygen species production, and the WRKY8 transcription factor.

The findings suggested that BC could serve as a valuable tool in agriculture, enhancing plant recovery after physical damage. Future research should explore the broader applications of BC and refine its use to optimize plant tissue regeneration strategies.