Effect of rhizobia and soil nitrate on the establishment and functioning of the soybean symbiosis in the field

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Herridge ◽  
RJ Roughley ◽  
J Brockwell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Rhizobium Japonicum ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Nodule Initiation

The symbiosis of the root-nodules of Bragg soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] and the relative dependence of the plants on symbiotic and soil sources of N were evaluated in an experiment conducted on a vertisol which was high in organic- and mineral-N, free of Rhizobium japonicum, and where poor nodulation was characteristic of inoculated, new sowings. Effective inoculant containing R. japonicum strain CB 1809 was sprayed into the seed bed at three rates of application (10-fold intervals). Increasing rates of inoculant led to greater numbers of rhizobia in the rhizosphere and in the soil, and to improved nodulation. Uninoculated plants did not nodulate. High soil NO-3 (30 �g N/g, top 30 cm) did not prevent prompt, abundant colonization of rhizospheres by the bacteria from the inoculant, but nodule initiation was delayed and nodule development was retarded until 42 days after sowing. There was an acceleration in nodule formation and development between 42 and 62 days which coincided with a depletion of NO-3 from the top 60 cm of the soil profile. Nodulated and unnodulated soybeans took up NO-3 at similar times and rates to a soil depth of 90 cm; only unnodulated plants utilized soil NO-3 below 90 cm. Vacuum-extracted stem (xylem) exudate was sampled from plants throughout growth and analysed for nitrogenous solutes. The proportion of ureide-N relative to total-solutes-N in xylem sap was used as an index of symbiotic N2-fixation. The initial increase in concentrations of ureides coincided with the period of accelerated nodule formation and development between 42 and 62 days. Thereafter, there was a progressive increase in ureide concentrations in nodulated plants, and the levels were related to rate of inoculation, extent of nodulation, and to the decline in concentrations of soil NO-3. Ureide concentrations in unnodulated plants remained low throughout. The quantities of NO-3-N and �-NH2- N in xylem sap were not related to nodulation. The differences between treatments in terms of whole-plant N and grain N were less than predicted from the symbiotic parameters. This indicated that soybeans compensated for symbiotic deficiencies by more efficient exploitation of soil N and/or by more efficient redistribution of vegetative N into grain N, and that nodulation and soil NO-3 were interactive and complementary in meeting the N requirements of the crop.

Differential effects of nitrate and ammonium supply on nodule initiation, development, and distribution on roots of pea (Pisum sativum)

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 893-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavis I. Bollman ◽  
J. Kevin Vessey
Keyword(s):  
Pisum Sativum ◽  
Root Development ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Lateral Roots ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Nodule Initiation

Low, static concentrations of ammonium have less negative effects on nodulation of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) than nitrate and in some cases may actually stimulate nodulation. Two experiments were carried out to assess the effects of supplying both forms of mineral N, separately and in combination, on nodule initiation, nodule development, nodule distribution between primary and lateral (secondary) roots, tertiary root development, and N2 fixation in pea. Pea plants were grown for up to 24 d after inoculation in hydroponic culture with no mineral N (zero N), NO3– (0.5 mmol·L–1), NH4+ (0.5 mmol·L–1), or NO3– (0.25 mmol·L–1) plus NH4+ (0.25 mmol·L–1). Concentrations of nitrate and ammonium were monitored on a daily basis and held relatively constant by continuous, automatic additions of stock solutions. Pea plants accumulated the most total dry mass (DM) and total N when supplied with the combination of nitrate plus ammonium but had the lowest nodule DM and percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere. Whole-plant nodulation (nodules per plant) and DM-specific nodulation (nodules·g–1 root DM) were 2.3- and 2.4-fold greater, respectively, in pea plants receiving NH4+ at 0.5 mmol·L–1 than in those supplied with NO3– at 0.5 mmol·L–1. The nodulation responses of plants receiving NO3– at 0.25 mmol·L–1 plus NH4+ at 0.25 mmol·L–1 were more similar to those of plants receiving only nitrate than only ammonium, indicating that when both forms of mineral N are available to plants, nitrate has a predominant effect on the nodulation response. Assessment of the stage of development of nodule primordia and nodules during the time course of the experiments indicated that nitrate not only decreased the degree of nodule initiation but also the rate at which those nodules developed. Microscopic observations indicated that the more negative effects of the nitrate treatment on DM-specific nodulation as compared with the ammonium treatment were consistent on both the primary and lateral roots. Quantification of nodulation and tertiary root development on lateral roots indicated that the stimulating effects of ammonium were specific to nodulation; the effects on tertiary root development were different. The study demonstrates for the first time that when both forms of mineral N are available at equal concentrations, the nodulation response in pea is influenced more by nitrate than by ammonium and that the effects of nitrate and ammonium on tertiary root initiation and development are unlike those on nodulation.

scholarly journals Enhanced Nodulation and Nodule Development by nolR Mutants of Sinorhizobium medicae on Specific Medicago Host Genotypes

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayuki Sugawara ◽  
Michael J. Sadowsky
Keyword(s):  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Nod Factor ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Sinorhizobium Medicae ◽  
Nodule Initiation

The nolR gene encodes a negatively acting, transcriptional regulatory protein of core Nod-factor biosynthetic genes in the sinorhizobia. Although previous reports showed that nolR modulates Nod-factor production and enhances nodulation speed of Sinorhizobium meliloti on alfalfa, there have been no reports for the symbiotic function of this gene in the S. medicae–Medicago truncatula symbiosis. Here, we constructed an nolR mutant of S. medicae WSM419 and evaluated mutant and wild-type strains for their nodulation ability, competitiveness, host specificity, and density-dependent nodulation phenotypes. When the mutant was inoculated at low and medium population densities, it showed enhanced nodule formation during the initial stages of nodulation. Results of quantitative competitive nodulation assays indicated that an nolR mutant had 2.3-fold greater competitiveness for nodulation on M. truncatula ‘A17’ than did the wild-type strain. Moreover, the nodulation phenotype of the nolR mutant differed among Medicago genotypes and showed significantly enhanced nodule development on M. tricycla. Taken together, these results indicated that mutation of nolR in S. medicae positively influenced nodule initiation, competitive nodulation, and nodule development at later nodulation stages. This may allow nolR mutants of S. medicae to have a selective advantage under field conditions.

XV.—The Effect of Certain Factors on the Formation of Root Nodules on Pea Plants in Aseptic Culture

1949 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira P. McGonagle
Keyword(s):  
Nicotinic Acid ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Root Cultures ◽  
Growth Substances ◽  
Aseptic Culture ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Rooting Medium ◽  
Whole Plants

The experiments described in the present paper were undertaken as the outcome of an investigation into the possibility of securing nodule formation on leguminous roots cultured separately from the shoots. During that investigation it soon became clear that experiments on whole plants were necessary, in order to test the effect, on the nodulation of the normal whole plant, of certain conditions under which nodulation of root cultures was being attempted. It is thought that these observations on whole plants, though ancillary to the main investigation (which is still in progress), are of sufficient interest to be published separately. The observations are concerned with the effect of the following conditions or treatments on nodule development in a particular variety of pea:—(a) Depriving the plant of light;(b) the presence of sucrose in the rooting medium;(c) the presence of nitrate in the rooting medium; and(d) the presence of certain accessory growth substances, viz. aneurin and nicotinic acid, in the rooting medium.

scholarly journals Rhizobial Synthesized Cytokinins Contribute to But Are Not Essential for the Symbiotic Interaction Between Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobia and Aeschynomene Legumes

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1232-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateřina Podlešáková ◽  
Joel Fardoux ◽  
Delphine Patrel ◽  
Katia Bonaldi ◽  
Ondřej Novák ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Nodules ◽  
Rna Degradation ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Symbiotic Interaction ◽  
Extracellular Medium ◽  
Exogenous Addition ◽  
Bradyrhizobium Sp ◽  
Derivatives Of

Cytokinins (CK) play an important role in the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. It has been known for years that rhizobia secrete CK in the extracellular medium but whether they play a role in nodule formation is not known. We have examined this question using the photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 which is able to nodulate Aeschynomene afraspera and A. indica using a Nod-dependent or Nod-independent symbiotic process, respectively. CK profiling showed that the most abundant CK secreted by Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 are the 2MeS (2-methylthiol) derivatives of trans-zeatin and isopentenyladenine. In their pure form, these CK can activate legume CK receptors in vitro, and their exogenous addition induced nodule-like structures on host plants. Deletion of the miaA gene showed that transfer RNA degradation is the source of CK production in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285. In nodulation studies performed with A. indica and A. afraspera, the miaA mutant had a 1-day delay in nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Moreover, A. indica plants formed considerably smaller but more abundant nodules when inoculated with the miaA mutant. These data show that CK produced by Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 are not the key signal triggering nodule formation during the Nod-independent symbiosis but they contribute positively to nodule development in Aeschynomene plants.

scholarly journals Minimal gene set from Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti pSymA required for efficient symbiosis with Medicago

2020 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. e2018015118
Author(s):  
Barney A. Geddes ◽  
Jason V. S. Kearsley ◽  
Jiarui Huang ◽  
Maryam Zamani ◽  
Zahed Muhammed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Nodules ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Bacterial Gene ◽  
Gene Set ◽  
Background Strain ◽  
Genetic Components ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Systems ◽  
Bacterial Genes

Reduction of N2 gas to ammonia in legume root nodules is a key component of sustainable agricultural systems. Root nodules are the result of a symbiosis between leguminous plants and bacteria called rhizobia. Both symbiotic partners play active roles in establishing successful symbiosis and nitrogen fixation: while root nodule development is mostly controlled by the plant, the rhizobia induce nodule formation, invade, and perform N2 fixation once inside the plant cells. Many bacterial genes involved in the rhizobia–legume symbiosis are known, and there is much interest in engineering the symbiosis to include major nonlegume crops such as corn, wheat, and rice. We sought to identify and combine a minimal bacterial gene complement necessary and sufficient for symbiosis. We analyzed a model rhizobium, Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti, using a background strain in which the 1.35-Mb symbiotic megaplasmid pSymA was removed. Three regions representing 162 kb of pSymA were sufficient to recover a complete N2-fixing symbiosis with alfalfa, and a targeted assembly of this gene complement achieved high levels of symbiotic N2 fixation. The resulting gene set contained just 58 of 1,290 pSymA protein-coding genes. To generate a platform for future synthetic manipulation, the minimal symbiotic genes were reorganized into three discrete nod, nif, and fix modules. These constructs will facilitate directed studies toward expanding the symbiosis to other plant partners. They also enable forward-type approaches to identifying genetic components that may not be essential for symbiosis, but which modulate the rhizobium’s competitiveness for nodulation and the effectiveness of particular rhizobia–plant symbioses.

scholarly journals A Convenient, Soil-Free Method for the Production of Root Nodules in Soybean to Study the Effects of Exogenous Additives

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swarup Roy Choudhury ◽  
Sarah M. Johns ◽  
Sona Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Legume Crop ◽  
Simple Protocol ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Legumes develop root nodules that harbour endosymbiotic bacteria, rhizobia. These rhizobia convert nitrogen to ammonia by biological nitrogen fixation. A thorough understanding of the biological nitrogen fixation in legumes and its regulation is key to develop sustainable agriculture. It is well known that plant hormones affect nodule formation; however, most studies are limited to model legumes due to their suitability for in vitro, plate-based assays. Specifically, it is almost impossible to measure the effects of exogenous hormones or other additives during nodule development in crop legumes such as soybean as they have huge root system in soil. To circumvent this issue, the present research develops suitable media and growth conditions for efficient nodule development under in vitro, soil free conditions in an important legume crop, soybean. Moreover, we also evaluate the effects of all major phytohormones during soybean nodulation under identical conditions. This versatile, inexpensive, scalable and simple protocol provides several advantages over previously established methods. It is extremely time-and resource-efficient, does not require special training or equipment, and produces highly reproducible results. The approach is expandable to other large legumes as well as for other exogenous additives.

Determinate development of nodule roots in actinomycete-induced root nodules of Myrica gale

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1357-1364 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. Torrey ◽  
Dale Callaham
Keyword(s):  
Root Development ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Cortical Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Myrica Gale

Young seedlings of Myrica gale L. grown in water culture were inoculated with a nodule suspension containing the effective actinomycete which induced root nodule formation. Nodule development was followed from initiation to nodule lobe formation and nodule root development using living materials and fixed nodules sectioned for light microscopy. After root hair infection and prenodule formation, three stages were observed: nodule lobe formation, a transition or arrested state, and nodule root development. The primary nodule lobe meristem originates endogenously and its formation involves pericycle, endodermis, and cortical cell derivatives. The lobe develops slowly to about 2 mm in length while the cortical cells are invaded by the actinomycete endophyte. After a period of arrest of variable duration, from a few days to several weeks, the nodule lobe meristem begins altered development, forming the elongate nodule root which undergoes slow but continuous growth to about 3- to 4-cm final length. New nodule lobe primordia are initiated endogenously at the base of existing nodules lobes, ultimately forming a cluster of nodule roots. Each nodule root, which elongates at about 0.1–1.0 mm per day, has a terminal apical meristem with reduced root cap formation and produces a modified root structure possessing an elaborate cortical intercellular space system and a reduced central cylinder. Nodule root growth is distinctive in that it shows strong negative geotropism. The endophyte is restricted to cortical cells of the nodule lobe and is totally absent from tissues of the nodule root. A probable role for nodule roots is to facilitate gas diffusion to the nitrogen-fixing endophyte site in the nodule lobe when nodules occur under conditions of low oxygen tension.

scholarly journals Auxin: at the root of nodule development?

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Mathesius
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Root ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Lateral Roots ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Lateral Root Development ◽  
Organ Differentiation ◽  
Development And Differentiation

Root nodules are formed as a result of an orchestrated exchange of chemical signals between symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria and certain plants. In plants that form nodules in symbiosis with actinorhizal bacteria, nodules are derived from lateral roots. In most legumes, nodules are formed de novo from pericycle and cortical cells that are re-stimulated for division and differentiation by rhizobia. The ability of plants to nodulate has only evolved recently and it has, therefore, been suggested that nodule development is likely to have co-opted existing mechanisms for development and differentiation from lateral root formation. Auxin is an important regulator of cell division and differentiation, and changes in auxin accumulation and transport are essential for lateral root development. There is growing evidence that rhizobia alter the root auxin balance as a prerequisite for nodule formation, and that nodule numbers are regulated by shoot-to-root auxin transport. Whereas auxin requirements appear to be similar for lateral root and nodule primordium activation and organ differentiation, the major difference between the two developmental programs lies in the specification of founder cells. It is suggested that differing ratios of auxin and cytokinin are likely to specify the precursors of the different root organs.

Effect of low root-zone temperature on nodule initiation in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally C. Peltzer ◽  
Lynette K. Abbott ◽  
Craig A. Atkins
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Lupinus Angustifolius ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Culture Solution ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Root Zone Temperature ◽  
Low Root Zone Temperature ◽  
Nodule Initiation ◽  
Zone Temperature

The effect of low root-zone temperature on nodulation of Lupinus angustifolius [L.] cv. Yandee was studied using glasshouse experiments in which the effects of temperature on nodule initiation and subsequent nodule development could be assessed separately. Low temperature (7 and 12˚C compared with 25˚C) reduced the growth of both uninoculated plants supplied with adequate mineral N and inoculated plants reliant on fixation alone for their N. However, even at 25˚C, growth of inoculated plants compared with plants supplied with mineral N was limited, and at lower temperatures nodulation was severely inhibited. The most sensitive stage to low root-zone temperature was nodule initiation and there appeared to be a critical temperature between 7 and 12˚C at which initiation did not take place. Increasing the number of bacteria in inocula (from 5 × 103 to 5 × 107 viable cells/mL) did not overcome inhibition. A number of diverse cultivars of L. angustifolius showed the same response as cv. Yandee. Low temperature inhibition of nodule initiation could be overcome by addition of culture solution collected from around the roots of symbioses established at 25˚C. The culture solutions were only effective if the roots at 25˚C were inoculated or, if collected from around uninoculated roots of plants grown with mineral N, they were first exposed to a Bradyrhizobium suspension and then sterilised before addition to cultures at low temperature. The data indicate that both plant and bradyrhizobial factors are required for nodule initiation and that exudation of plant factors at low root-zone temperature is insufficient to stimulate production of the nodulation factors from Bradyrhizobium. At 25˚C, the nodulation zone of lupin roots bore many fractures in the epidermis and showed a high frequency of free root cap border cells, as well as a distinct matrix of extracellular material. These features were significantly reduced at 12˚C and essentially absent at 7˚C, indicating that at low temperature bacterial entry may be restricted.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal cytokinin signaling imaging reveals IPT3 function in nodule development in Medicago truncatula

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo M. Triozzi ◽  
Thomas B. Irving ◽  
Henry W. Schmidt ◽  
Zachary P. Keyser ◽  
Sanhita Chakraborty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Root Nodules ◽  
Nodule Development ◽  
Nodule Formation ◽  
Symbiotic Association ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Cytokinin Signaling ◽  
Tissue Specific

ABSTRACTMost legumes can establish a symbiotic association with soil rhizobia that triggers the development of root nodules. These nodules host the rhizobia and allow them to fix nitrogen efficiently. The perception of bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) signal in the epidermis initiates a signaling cascade that allows rhizobial intracellular infection in the root and de-differentiation and activation of cell division that gives rise to the nodule. Nodule organogenesis and rhizobial infection need to be coupled in space and time for successful nodulation. The plant hormone cytokinin (CK) acts as an essential positive regulator of nodule organogenesis, and specific CK receptors are required for nodule formation. Temporal regulation of tissue-specific CK signaling and biosynthesis in response to LCOs or Sinorhizobium meliloti inoculation in Medicago truncatula remains poorly understood. In the present study, using a fluorescence-based CK sensor (TCSn::nls:tGFP), we performed a high-resolution tissue-specific temporal characterization of the CK response’s sequential activation during root infection and nodule development in M. truncatula after inoculation with S. meliloti. Loss-of-function mutants of the CK-biosynthetic gene ISOPENTENYL TRANSFERASE 3 (IPT3) showed impairment of nodulation, suggesting that IPT3 is required for nodule development in M. truncatula. Simultaneous live imaging of pIPT3::tdTOMATO and the CK sensor showed that IPT3 induction in the root stele at the base of nodule primordium contributes to CK biosynthesis, which in turn promotes expression of positive regulators of nodule organogenesis in M. truncatula.One-sentence summaryHigh-resolution spatiotemporal imaging of cytokinin signaling reveals IPT3 function during indeterminate nodule development in Medicago truncatula

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