Differential responses of the sunn4 and rdn1-1 super-nodulation mutants of Medicago truncatula to elevated atmospheric CO2 |
| |
Authors: | Yunfa Qiao Shujie Miao Jian Jin Ulrike Mathesius Caixian Tang |
| |
Institution: | 1.Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, No. 219 Ningliu Road, Nanjing 210044, China;2.Department of Animal, Plant & Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia;3.Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia |
| |
Abstract: | Background and AimsNitrogen fixation in legumes requires tight control of carbon and nitrogen balance. Thus, legumes control nodule numbers via an autoregulation mechanism. ‘Autoregulation of nodulation’ mutants super-nodulate are thought to be carbon-limited due to the high carbon-sink strength of excessive nodules. This study aimed to examine the effect of increasing carbon supply on the performance of super-nodulation mutants.MethodsWe compared the responses of Medicago truncatula super-nodulation mutants (sunn-4 and rdn1-1) and wild type to five CO2 levels (300–850 μmol mol−1). Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation were assessed in soil-grown plants at 18 and 42 d after sowing.Key ResultsShoot and root biomass, nodule number and biomass, nitrogenase activity and fixed nitrogen per plant of all genotypes increased with increasing CO2 concentration and reached a maximum at 700 μmol mol−1. While the sunn-4 mutant showed strong growth retardation compared with wild-type plants, elevated CO2 increased shoot biomass and total nitrogen content of the rdn1-1 mutant up to 2-fold. This was accompanied by a 4-fold increase in nitrogen fixation capacity in the rdn1-1 mutant.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the super-nodulation phenotype per se did not limit growth. The additional nitrogen fixation capacity of the rdn1-1 mutant may enhance the benefit of elevated CO2 for plant growth and N2 fixation. |
| |
Keywords: | Autoregulation of nodulation carbon source carbon sink climate change high CO2 supply genotypic variation symbiotic N2 fixation |
|
|