Solanum tuberosum peel and root derived extracellular vesicles proteome

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) facilitate inter and intraspecies/kingdom communication through biomolecule transfer, including proteins and small RNAs. Characteristics and the physiological role of plant EVs is a recent hot topic in the EV field. In the current study, we purified and characterized vesicles from hydroponically cultivated potato plants (isolating, cv. Laura), isolating root exudates and apoplastic wash from potato peels via vacuum infiltration. Biophysical and chemical analyses unveiled morphological similarities between EVs from potato roots and peels. Diameter of EVs from potato roots (164.6±7.3 nm) were significantly larger than those from peels (132.2±2.0 nm, p = 0.0039). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) showed substantial protein enrichment in purified EVs compared to crude samples from both sources. Only 11.8% of identified proteins were common, with merely 2% significantly enriched proteins shared between potato root and peel EVs. Pathways associated with responses to biotic and abiotic stress factors were significantly enriched in potato peel and root EV proteomes, hinting at a defensive role played by EVs. With further experimentation to elucidate the specific methods of communications, these findings promise to enhance our understanding of plant EVs, aiding in sustainable agricultural waste utilization for large-scale EV production, aligning with "valorization."