Interactions ofRhizobium japonicum strains in soybean nodules and their contribution to nitrogen fixation

Summary Rhizobium japonicum strain 8-0 Str^R applied as inoculum to Clark 63 soybeans formed small ineffective nodules which had very low nitrogenase activity compared to nodules formed by two effective strains, 110 Tet^R and 138 Kan^R. Mean numbers of cells per milligram of nodule tissue for plants up to 34 days old were 7.7×10⁶ for 8-0 Str^R, 4.1×10⁸ for 110 Tet^R and 7.6×10⁸ for 138 Kan^R. Cell counts per unit mass of nodule were independent of plant age for strains 110 Tet^R and 138 Kan^R, however, for strain 8-0 Str^R, 25 and 34 days old plants had fewer viable cells per nodule mass than 18 day old plants. When a mixture of two effective strains was used, the nodules of individual plants were predominantly caused by either 110 Tet^R or 138 Kan^R. In one experiment the predominance was random, but in another, strain 110 Tet^R clearly dominated. Strain 138 Kan^R was absent in some nodules on 18 day old plants, and in others, less than 10² cells per nodule were found. When strains 8-0 Str^R and 138 Kan^R were used as mixed inoculum, most of the nodules had strain 8-0 Str^R but strain 138 Kan^R was detected in many nodules and was generally evident in the largest nodules. Nitrogenase activity by many individual nodules was low except for nodules which had cells of 138 Kan^R. Nitrogenase activity by whole root systems of these plants was relatively high and similar to plants that had only nodules of strain 138 Kan^R. Similar relationships were observed for a mixed inoculum of 8-0 Str^R and 110 Tet^R. In general, mixed inoculations resulted in nodules with a particular strain being dominant for each individual plant. Double infections within individual nodules were not uncommon and such nodules often had disproportionate numbers of cells of two competingR. japonicum strains.Contribution from the Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, Department of Agronomy, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. Missouri Journal Series Number 7967.