Relationship between symbiotic nitrogen fixation, sucrose synthesis and anti-oxidant activities in source leaves of two Medicago ciliaris lines cultivated under salt stress

Four cultivars of chickpea, two of them of Mediterranean origin (kabuli), CSG 9651, BG 267 and two Indian (desi) types, CSG 8962, DCP 92-3, differing in their salt sensitivities were identified after screening ten genotypes in saline soils. The cultivars CSG 9651 and CSG 8962 were salt tolerant while BG 267 and DCP 92-3 were salt sensitive, respectively. The seeds of different cultivars were inoculated with Mesorhizobium ciceri, strain F: 75 and the plants were grown in the greenhouse. After the establishment of symbiosis, 15-day-old seedlings were administered doses of saline at varying concentrations (0, 4, 6, 8 dSm-1 NaCl, Na2SO4, CaCl2). Plants were harvested at 40, 70 and 100 days after sowing, for analyses. The main aim was to compare the relative salt tolerance of both desi and kabuli cultivars in terms of nitrogen fixation and carbon metabolism, as well as to ascertain whether the negative effects of saline stress on nitrogen fixation were due to a limitation of photosynthate supply to the nodule or to a limitation on the nodular metabolism that sustains nitrogenase activity. Plant growth, nodulation and nitrogenase activity was more severely affected in BG 267 and DCP 92-3 under salinity treatments (6 and 8 dSm-1) compared with CSG 9651 and CSG 8962. Nodule number as well as nodule mass increased under salt stress in CSG 9651 and CSG 8962 which might be responsible for their higher nitrogen fixation. Salinity reduced leaf chlorophyll and Rubisco activities in all cultivars. However, tolerant cultivars CSG 9651 and CSG 8962 showed smaller declines than the sensitive ones. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) activity increased significantly in the nodules of tolerant cultivars under salt stress at all harvests, and this was clearly related to salt concentrations. Our results suggest that in salt-affected soils tolerant cultivars have more efficient nodulation and support higher rates of symbiotic nitrogen fixation than the sensitive cultivars.

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Selection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) for yield and symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability under salt stress

Agronomie ◽

10.1051/agro:2001158 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 21 (6-7) ◽

pp. 659-666 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Mohammed Sadiki ◽

Kamal Rabih

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Cicer Arietinum ◽

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Selection Of

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Response of nitrogen fixation in relation to nodule carbohydrate metabolism in Medicago ciliaris lines subjected to salt stress

Journal of Plant Physiology ◽

10.1016/j.jplph.2008.06.016 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 166 (5) ◽

pp. 477-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Imène Ben Salah ◽

Alfonso Albacete ◽

Cristina Martínez Andújar ◽

Rabiaa Haouala ◽

Nehla Labidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Carbohydrate Metabolism ◽

Medicago Ciliaris

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Reduction of Growth and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Soybean as Affected by the Site of Simulated Acid Rain Application.

Japanese Journal of Crop Science ◽

10.1626/jcs.66.596 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 596-602 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xianyu WANG ◽

Makoto TSUDA ◽

Tetsuro TANIYAMA

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Acid Rain ◽

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Simulated Acid Rain

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Current Issues in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation. Ed. by G. H. ELKAN and R. G. UPCHURCH. 19x26 cm. Pp. iv+196 with numerous plates and figures. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997. Price f99.00, ISBN 0 7923 4367 0.

New Phytologist ◽

10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00262.x ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 140 (1) ◽

pp. 167-169

Author(s):

Ken Giller

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

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Plasmids Related to the Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Are Not Only Cooperated Functionally but Also May Have Evolved over a Time Span in Family Rhizobiaceae

Genome Biology and Evolution ◽

10.1093/gbe/evaa152 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 2002-2014

Author(s):

Ling-Ling Yang ◽

Zhao Jiang ◽

Yan Li ◽

En-Tao Wang ◽

Xiao-Yang Zhi

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Gene Transfer ◽

Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Gene Families ◽

Time Span ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Gene Gain ◽

Nitrogen Fixing ◽

Pan Genome

Abstract Rhizobia are soil bacteria capable of forming symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules associated with leguminous plants. In fast-growing legume-nodulating rhizobia, such as the species in the family Rhizobiaceae, the symbiotic plasmid is the main genetic basis for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, and is susceptible to horizontal gene transfer. To further understand the symbioses evolution in Rhizobiaceae, we analyzed the pan-genome of this family based on 92 genomes of type/reference strains and reconstructed its phylogeny using a phylogenomics approach. Intriguingly, although the genetic expansion that occurred in chromosomal regions was the main reason for the high proportion of low-frequency flexible gene families in the pan-genome, gene gain events associated with accessory plasmids introduced more genes into the genomes of nitrogen-fixing species. For symbiotic plasmids, although horizontal gene transfer frequently occurred, transfer may be impeded by, such as, the host’s physical isolation and soil conditions, even among phylogenetically close species. During coevolution with leguminous hosts, the plasmid system, including accessory and symbiotic plasmids, may have evolved over a time span, and provided rhizobial species with the ability to adapt to various environmental conditions and helped them achieve nitrogen fixation. These findings provide new insights into the phylogeny of Rhizobiaceae and advance our understanding of the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

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