The hydrolase MtCHIT5b degrades Nod factors of and cooperates with MtNFH1 to regulate the nodule symbiosis.

Nod factors secreted by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are lipo-chitooligosaccharidic signals required for establishment of the nodule symbiosis with legumes. In , the Nod factor hydrolase 1 (MtNFH1) was found to cleave Nod factors of . Here, we report that the class V chitinase MtCHIT5b of expressed in can release lipodisaccharides from Nod factors.