Harnessing biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles for recruitment of beneficial soil microbes to plant roots

Root exudates can benefit plant growth and health by reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome. Whether nanoparticles biosynthesized by rhizosphere microbes play a similar role in plant microbiome manipulation remains enigmatic. Herein, we collect elemental selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) from selenobacteria associated with maize roots. In vitro and soil assays show that the SeNPs enhanced plant performance by recruiting plant growth-promoting bacteria (e.g., Bacillus) in a dose-dependent manner. Multiomic profilings unravel a cross-kingdom-signaling cascade that mediates efficient biosynthesis of SeNPs by selenobacteria. Specifically, maize roots perceive histamine signaling from Bacillus spp., which stimulates the plant to produce p-coumarate via root exudation. The rpoS gene in selenobacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas sp. ZY71) responds to p-coumarate signaling and positively regulates the biosynthesis of SeNPs. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism for recruiting host-beneficial soil microbes by microbially synthesized nanoparticles and unlocks promising possibilities for plant microbiome manipulation.