Coenzyme M: An Archaeal Antioxidant as an Agricultural Biostimulant

Authors

Jeremy H. Brown, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Plant Science InnovationFollow
Jithesh Vijayan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Plant Science Innovation
Aline Rodrigues de Queiroz, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Plant Science Innovation
Natalia Figueroa Ramos, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nate Bickford, Oregon Institute of TechnologyFollow
Melissa Wuellner, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Nicole R. Buan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Redox BiologyFollow
Julie M. Stone, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Redox BiologyFollow
Katarzyna Glowacka, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Plant Science Innovation and Polish Academy of SciencesFollow
Rebecca L. Roston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Center for Plant Science InnovationFollow

ORCID IDs

Bickford https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2041-1531

Wuellner https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9533-1352

Roston https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3063-5002

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2025

Citation

Antioxidants (2025) 14: 140

doi: 10.3390/antiox1402014

Comments

Open access

License: CC BY 4.0

Abstract

Rising global food demand necessitates improved crop yields. Biostimulants offer a potential solution to meet these demands. Among them, antioxidants have shown potential to improve yield, nutritional quality, and resilience to climate change. However, large-scale production of many antioxidants is challenging. Here, we investigate Coenzyme M (CoM), a small, achiral antioxidant from archaea, as a potential biostimulant, investigating its effects on growth and physiology. CoM significantly increased shoot mass and root length of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, in a concentration-dependent manner. Sulfur-containing CoM supplementation restored growth under sulfur-limited conditions in Arabidopsis, whereas similar recovery was not observed for other macronutrient deficiencies, consistent with it being metabolized. In tobacco, CoM increased photosynthetic light capture capacity, consistent with observed growth improvements. Interestingly, this effect was independent of carbon capture rates. Furthermore, CoM promoted early-stage shoot growth in various crops species, including tobacco, basil, cannabis, and soybean. Our results suggest CoM is a promising, scalable biostimulant with potential to modify photosynthesis and enhance crop productivity.