豆科植物-根瘤菌共生固氮的免疫调控机制

在长期进化中,根瘤菌与豆科植物形成一种独特的互惠共生关系——共生固氮。根瘤菌-豆科植物共生互作与病原细菌激发植物病原反应极为相似,然而根瘤菌的入侵和定殖并没有激发宿主豆科植物过度的防御反应,植物也进化出特殊的共生信号转导和根瘤发育途径来"邀请"根瘤菌的入侵和定殖。此外,植物防御反应也很大程度上调控根瘤菌与豆科植物共生的宿主特异性。越来越多的研究表明,植物防御反应在调控根瘤菌匹配识别、入侵、定殖以及类菌体发育等方面起关键调控作用。从植物免疫反应角度综述了根瘤菌与豆科植物共生互作的最新进展,通过与病原菌-植物互作的病原反应对比,论述了根瘤中植物感知微生物相关分子模式(MAMP,Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns)和效应蛋白引起的免疫反应的调控机制。     

根瘤菌-豆科植物共生体系在重金属污染环境修复中的地位、应用及潜力

土壤重金属污染严重影响了人类健康和生态系统稳定,已成为亟待解决的现实问题。在重金属污染地,氮素的极端不足是植被恢复主要限制因子之一。根瘤菌-豆科植物共生体系是固氮能力最强的生物固氮体系,在促进重金属污染地氮素循化和营养元素积累中具有重要作用。本文阐述土壤重金属污染的修复方法及其特点,微生物抗重金属的机理及促植物生长和重金属积累的特性,根瘤菌-豆科植物共生体系在土壤重金属污染修复中的优越性,研究现状及应用潜力。提出应用"豆科植物-根瘤菌共生体系"修复重金属污染土壤的新思路和新任务。     

丛枝菌根(AM)对根瘤菌趋化作用研究

对紫穗槐非接种(AM-+Rh-)、单接种根瘤菌(Rh+)、单接种AM真菌(AM+)和双接种(AM++Rh+)处理, 研究AM真菌、根瘤菌对宿主植物紫穗槐侵染情况, 并采用经过改良的根部微生物趋化试验手段研究AM真菌侵染根系后分泌物对根瘤菌的趋化性。实验结果表明：在接种AM++ Rh+情况下, 使宿主先于AM+、Rh+处理形成根瘤, 且双接种能够显著提高菌根侵染率; 在共生体形成期间, AM真菌与根瘤菌之间存在着识别互动反应和一定的信号物质, 接种AM真菌对根瘤菌有正趋化作用; 同时, 外界温度对AM真菌-宿主植物---根瘤菌三者共生体初始信号识别也起到一定的调控作用。     

苜蓿根瘤菌专一性研究与应用

苜蓿根瘤菌（Rhizobium meliloti或称Sinorhizobium metliloti）专一性及应用研究取得新进展。该菌与豆科植物（苜蓿）建立共生关系而成为独立的“苜蓿根瘤菌互接种族”，一般说表现其严格的寄主专一性，也就是说，该族根瘤菌不侵染其它豆科植物结瘤固氮，对这方面基础研究在国内不多见有关报道；然而对其实际应用研究颇为活跃，它与苜蓿建立共生固氮关系已应用于农业实践，有益于发展饲料业、养殖业；同时有益于农业如改造盐碱地等。据报道，这种共生体有很好耐盐碱、抗干旱能力。     

根瘤菌的结瘤基因与结瘤因子

根瘤菌的结瘤基因与结瘤因子郭先武（华中农业大学农业部农业微生物重点实验室武汉４３００７０）根瘤菌侵染豆科植物形成根瘤,并合成ＮＨ３供植物利用,其自身也在植物环境中得以有效延续。这就是根瘤菌与宿主植物的共生关系。形成共生关系的基因分成三类［７］,一类是...     

丛枝菌根（AM）真菌-豆科植物-根瘤菌共生识别信号研究概况

<正>植物与微生物共生是自然界中普遍存在的一种生物学现象,其中高等植物和丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌共生形成的菌根、以及豆科植物和根瘤菌(rhizobia)形成的根瘤与农林牧业生产和生态系统的稳定性密切相关。豆科植物形成根瘤的同时还能与AM真菌形成菌根,最终建立三位一体     

丛枝菌根(AM)对根瘤菌趋化作用研究

对紫穗槐非接种(AM- Rh-)、单接种根瘤菌(Rh )、单接种AM真菌(AM )和双接种(AM Rh )处理,研究AM真菌、根瘤茵对宿主植物紫穗槐侵染情况,并采用经过改良的根部微生物趋化试验手段研究AM真菌侵染根系后分泌物对根瘤茵的趋化性.实验结果表明:在接种AM Rh 情况下,使宿主先于AM ,Rh '处理形成根瘤,且双接种能够显著提高菌根侵染率;在共生体形成期间,AM真菌与根瘤菌之间存在着识别互动反应和一定的信号物质,接种AM真菌对根瘤菌有正趋化作用;同时,外界温度对AM真菌.宿主植物一根瘤茵三者共生体初始信号识别也起到一定的调控作用.     

豆科植物根瘤内生细菌的发现及其研究进展

近年来研究报道显示,某些豆科植物与根瘤菌在形成固氮共生体的同时,其根瘤内还存在多种其他类群的内生细菌,该现象在根瘤菌研究领域越来越引起关注和重视。本文综述了根瘤内生土壤杆菌、非共生根瘤菌、其它细菌的发现、种类及其对共生关系和植物生长的影响等研究进展,同时对该研究方向提出一些初步观点和认识,旨在增加人们对根瘤微生态的了解,拓展根瘤菌研究与应用的视野。     

豆科植物早期共生信号转导的研究进展

豆科植物与根瘤菌建立特异的共生关系,在寄主根部产生固氮根瘤。此过程包含了共生信号识别与传递、根瘤菌侵染、根瘤形成以及固氮功能实现等生物学事件。研究人员已经从2种豆科模式植物蒺藜苜蓿（Medicago truncatula）和百脉根（Lotus japonicus）的共生固氮体系中,筛选到许多与根瘤菌共生相关的突变体及其相对应的功能基因,建立起包含结瘤因子识别、共生信号传递和转录响应在内的早期共生信号途径。该文对豆科植物早期共生信号途径的新进展进行了综述。     

科技信息

苜蓿根瘤菌专一性研究与应用苜蓿根瘤菌(Rhizobium meliloti或称Sinorhizobium metliloti)专一性及应用研究取得新进展。该菌与豆科植物(苜蓿)建立共生关系而成为独立的“苜蓿根瘤菌互接种族”,一般说表现其严格的寄主专一性,也就是说,该族根瘤菌不侵染其它豆科植物结瘤固氮,对这方面基础研究在国内不多见有关报道;然而对其实际应用研究颇为活跃,它与苜蓿建立共生固氮关系已应用于农业实践,有益于发展饲料业、养殖业;同时有益于农业如改造盐碱地等。据报道,这种共生体有很好耐盐碱、抗干旱能力。在我国,河北省有6万亩含盐量2%的荒地,通过种植苜蓿使盐碱荒地得改造而变为良田,全部可种植粮食作物如小麦等,为农民增收起了重要作用;另一方面苜蓿根瘤菌与其共生体为增加土壤有机质,改善土壤结构,增     

Effects of co-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia on soybean growth as related to root architecture and availability of N and P

Soybean plants can form tripartite symbiotic associations with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but little is known about effects of co-inoculation with rhizobia and AM fungi on plant growth, or their relationships to root architecture as well as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. In the present study, two soybean genotypes contrasting in root architecture were grown in a field experiment to evaluate relationships among soybean root architecture, AMF colonization, and nodulation under natural conditions. Additionally, a soil pot experiment in greenhouse was conducted to investigate the effects of co-inoculation with rhizobia and AM fungi on soybean growth, and uptake of N and P. Our results indicated that there was a complementary relationship between root architecture and AMF colonization in the field. The deep root soybean genotype had greater AMF colonization at low P, but better nodulation with high P supply than the shallow root genotype. A synergistic relationship dependent on N and P status exists between rhizobia and AM fungi on soybean growth. Co-inoculation with rhizobia and AM fungi significantly increased soybean growth under low P and/or low N conditions as indicated by increased shoot dry weight, along with plant N and P content. There were no significant effects of inoculation under adequate N and P conditions. Furthermore, the effects of co-inoculation were related to root architecture. The deep root genotype, HN112, benefited more from co-inoculation than the shallow root genotype, HN89. Our results elucidate new insights into the relationship between rhizobia, AM fungi, and plant growth under limitation of multiple nutrients, and thereby provides a theoretical basis for application of co-inoculation in field-grown soybean.     

Investigation of Four Classes of Non-nodulating White Sweetclover (Melilotus alba annua Desr.) Mutants and Their Responses to Arbuscular-Mycorrhizal Fungi

The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between Rhizobiaceae and legumes is one of the best-studied interactions established between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The plant develops root nodules in which the bacteria are housed, and atmospheric nitrogen is fixed into ammonia by the rhizobia and made available to the plant in exchange for carbon compounds. It has been hypothesized that this symbiosis evolved from the more ancient arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, in which the fungus associates with roots and aids the plant in the absorption of mineral nutrients, particularly phosphate. Support comes from several fronts: 1) legume mutants where Nod(-) and Myc(-) co-segregate, and 2) the fact that various early nodulin (ENOD) genes are expressed in legume AM. Both strongly argue for the idea that the signal transduction pathways between the two symbioses are conserved. We have analyzed the responses of four classes of non-nodulating Melilotus alba (white sweetclover) mutants to Glomus intraradices (the mycorrhizal symbiont) to investigate how Nod(-) mutations affect the establishment of this symbiosis. We also re-examined the root hair responses of the non-nodulating mutants to Sinorhizobium meliloti (the nitrogen-fixing symbiont). Of the four classes, several sweetclover sym mutants are both Nod(-) and Myc(-). In an attempt to decipher the relationship between nodulation and mycorrhiza formation, we also performed co-inoculation experiments with mutant rhizobia and Glomus intraradices on Medicago sativa, a close relative of M. alba. Even though sulfated Nod factor was supplied by some of the bacterial mutants, the fungus did not complement symbiotically defective rhizobia for nodulation.     

Suppression of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and nodulation in split-root systems of alfalfa after pre-inoculation and treatment with Nod factors

Roots of legumes establish symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nodule-inducing rhizobia. The existing nodules systemically suppress subsequent nodule formation in other parts of the root, a phenomenon termed autoregulation. Similarly, mycorrhizal roots reduce further AMF colonization on other parts of the root system. In this work, split- root systems of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were used to study the autoregulation of symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti and the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. It is shown that nodulation systemically influences AMF root colonization and vice versa. Nodules on one half of the split-root system suppressed subsequent AMF colonization on the other half. Conversely, root systems pre-colonized on one side by AMF exhibited reduced nodule formation on the other side. An inhibition effect was also observed with Nod factors (lipo-chito-oligosaccharides). NodSm-IV(C16:2, S) purified from S. meliloti systemically suppressed both nodule formation and AMF colonization. The application of Nod factors, however, did not influence the allocation of (14)C within the split-root system, excluding competition for carbohydrates as the regulatory mechanism. These results indicate a systemic regulatory mechanism in the rhizobial and the arbuscular mycorrhizal association, which is similar in both symbioses.     

Are common symbiosis genes required for endophytic rice-rhizobial interactions?

Legume plants are able to establish root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, called rhizobia. Recent studies revealed that the root nodule symbiosis has co-opted the signaling pathway that mediates the ancestral mycorrhizal symbiosis that occurs in most land plants. Despite being unable to induce nodulation, rhizobia have been shown to be able to infect and colonize the roots of non-legumes such as rice. One fascinating question is whether establishment of such associations requires the common symbiosis (Sym) genes that are essential for infection of plant cells by mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia in legumes. Here, we demonstrated that the common Sym genes are not required for endophytic colonization of rice roots by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia.     

Assessment of Polygala paniculata (Polygalaceae) characteristics for evolutionary studies of legume–rhizobia symbiosis

Root nodule (RN) symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction observed between nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria and nodulating plants, which are scattered in only four orders of angiosperms called nitrogen-fixing clade. Most of legumes engage in RN symbiosis with rhizobia. Molecular genetic analyses with legumes and non-leguminous nodulating plants revealed that RN symbiosis utilizes early signalling components that are required for symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However detailed evolutionary processes are still largely unknown. Comparative analyses with non-nodulating species phylogenetically related to legumes could be better strategies to study the evolution of RN symbiosis in legumes. Polygala paniculata is a non-leguminous species that belongs to a family different from legumes but that is classified into the same order, Fabales. It has appropriate characteristics for cultivation in laboratories: small body size, high fertility and short lifecycles. Therefore, we further assessed whether this species is suitable as a model species for comparative studies with legumes. We first validated that the plant we obtained in Palau was truly P. paniculata by molecular phylogenetic analysis using rbcL sequences. The estimated genome size of this species was less than those of two model legumes, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. We determined conditions for cultivation in vitro and for hairy root formation from P. paniculata seedlings. It would facilitate to investigate gene functions in this species. The ability of P. paniculata to interact with AM fungi was confirmed by inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis, suggesting the presence of early signalling factors that might be involved in RN symbiosis. Unexpectedly, branching of root hairs was observed when inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti broad host range strain NZP2037, indicating that P. paniculata has the biological potential to respond to rhizobia. We propose that P. paniculata is used as a model plant for the evolutionary study of RN symbiosis.

     

Phytoremediation of Heavy and Transition Metals Aided by Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis

Legumes are important for nitrogen cycling in the environment and agriculture due to the ability of nitrogen fixation by rhizobia. In this review, we introduce an important and potential role of legume-rhizobia symbiosis in aiding phytoremediation of some metal contaminated soils as various legumes have been found to be the dominant plant species in metal contaminated areas. Resistant rhizobia used for phytoremediation could act on metals directly by chelation, precipitation, transformation, biosorption and accumulation. Moreover, the plant growth promoting (PGP) traits of rhizobia including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, siderophore release, and production of ACC deaminase and the volatile compounds of acetoin and 2, 3-butanediol may facilitate legume growth while lessening metal toxicity. The benefits of using legumes inoculated with naturally resistant rhizobia or recombinant rhizobia with enhanced resistance, as well as co-inoculation with other plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are discussed. However, the legume-rhizobia symbiosis appears to be sensitive to metals, and the effect of metal toxicity on the interaction between legumes and rhizobia is not clear. Therefore, to obtain the maximum benefits from legumes assisted by rhizobia for phytoremediation of metals, it is critical to have a good understanding of interactions between PGP traits, the symbiotic plant-rhizobia relationship and metals.     

Managing Soils to Enhance Mycorrhizal Benefits in Mediterranean Agriculture

Abstract

Regions with Mediterranean climates (i.e., with winter rainfall and summer drought) have many different agricultural systems. However, two common features of these regions are the use of rotations of legumes and cereals, and the relatively low levels of use of phosphate fertilizer applied to phosphate-deficient soils. There is potential to increase the efficiency of use of phosphate in these environments by increasing the contribution of vesicular arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi because legumes respond to mycorrhizal colonization when phosphate is limiting plant growth. The potential to make effective use of the mycorrhizal symbiosis in Mediterranean agriculture depends on developing further understanding of several key relationships between the components of the symbiosis and the soil conditions. First, there is a need to know whether the existing level of colonization of roots by mycorrhizal fungi is less than optimal. To achieve this, a combination of an understanding of the effects of agricultural practices (as they affect the dynamics of populations of the fungi in soil) and a calibrated bioassay to predict the level of colonization of roots in the following season are required. The second relationship required is the interaction between the rate and extent of colonization of roots and the functioning of the mycorrhizas. The impact of agricultural practices on the functioning of the symbiosis also needs to be included in the analysis.     

Interspecific variation in plant responses to mycorrhizal colonization in tallgrass prairie

Symbiotic associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous and ecologically important in many grasslands. Differences in species responses to mycorrhizal colonization can have a significant influence on plant community structure. The growth responses of 36 species of warm- and cool-season tallgrass prairie grasses and 59 tallgrass prairie forbs to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization were assessed in greenhouse studies to examine the extent of interspecific variation in host-plant benefit from the symbiosis and patterns of mycorrhizal dependence among host plant life history (e.g., annual, perennial) and taxonomic (e.g., grass, forb, legume, nonlegume) groups and phenological guilds. There was a strong and significant relationship between phenology of prairie grasses and mycorrhizal responsiveness, however this relationship was less apparent in forbs. Perennial warm-season C(4) grasses and forbs generally benefited significantly from the mycorrhizal symbiosis, whereas biomass production of the cool-season C(3) grasses was not affected. The root systems of the cool-season grasses were also less highly colonized by the AM fungi, as compared to the warm-season grasses or forbs. Unlike the native perennials, annuals were generally not responsive to mycorrhizal colonization and were lower in percentage root colonization than the perennial species. Plant growth responsiveness and AM root colonization were positively correlated for the nonleguminous species, with this relationship being strongest for the cool-season grasses. In contrast, root colonization of prairie legumes showed a significant, but negative, relationship to mycorrhizal growth responsiveness.     

A novel nuclear protein interacts with the symbiotic DMI3 calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase of Medicago truncatula

Many higher plants establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that improve their ability to acquire nutrients from the soil. In addition to establishing AM symbiosis, legumes also enter into a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with bacteria known as rhizobia that results in the formation of root nodules. Several genes involved in the perception and transduction of bacterial symbiotic signals named "Nod factors" have been cloned recently in model legumes through forward genetic approaches. Among them, DMI3 (Doesn't Make Infections 3) is a calcium- and calmodulin-dependent kinase required for the establishment of both nodulation and AM symbiosis. We have identified, by a yeast two-hybrid system, a novel protein interacting with DMI3 named IPD3 (Interacting Protein of DMI3). IPD3 is predicted to interact with DMI3 through a C-terminal coiled-coil domain. Chimeric IPD3::GFP is localized to the nucleus of transformed Medicago truncatula root cells, in which split yellow fluorescent protein assays suggest that IPD3 and DMI3 physically interact in Nicotiana benthamiana. Like DMI3, IPD3 is extremely well conserved among the angiosperms and is absent from Arabidopsis. Despite this high level of conservation, none of the homologous proteins have a demonstrated biological or biochemical function. This work provides the first evidence of the involvement of IPD3 in a nuclear interaction with DMI3.     

Assess suitability of hydroaeroponic culture to establish tripartite symbiosis between different AMF species, beans, and rhizobia

Background  

Like other species of the Phaseoleae tribe, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has the potential to establish symbiosis with rhizobia and to fix the atmospheric dinitrogen (N₂) for its N nutrition. Common bean has also the potential to establish symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that improves the uptake of low mobile nutrients such as phosphorus, from the soil. Both rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses can act synergistically in benefits on plant.