新疆干旱地区根瘤菌资源研究I．根瘤菌种类及其共生固氮作用

从新疆不同生态条件下生长的31属109种豆科植物根瘤分离获得373株根瘤菌,其中88株是从未报道过结瘤情况的39种豆科植物根瘤分离获得。它们与豆科寄主植物共生结瘤,95％以上为有效根瘤。不同种的根瘤固氮活性差异较大,黄芪属根瘤固氮活性较高,最高者为大豆根瘤固氮活性的42倍。 20属37种豆科植物根瘤中97％有吸氢活性。根瘤固氮活性、吸氢活性均与寄主植物生长发育期有相关性。     

几种生态因素对西北干旱地区豆科植物结瘤固氮的影响

通过对西北干旱地区栽培和野生豆科植物不同环境条件固氮状况的调查表明,栽培豆科植物一般能自然结瘤,野生豆科植物种的结瘤率极低。根瘤颜色栽培植物多为粉红色,而野生植物多为白色、黄色或棕色。通过对水分、光照强度和温度等不同条件下根瘤ARA测定,表明根瘤固氮活性与生态条件关系密切,而土壤水分是限制根瘤固氮活性表达的主要因素。     

河西走廊豆科植物结瘤固氮特性初步研究

对甘肃河西走产野生豆科植物结瘤及固氮状况进行了调查。栽培豆科植物均能自然结瘤,野生豆科植物结瘤率仅５０％。该地区豆科植物根瘤大多数圆形、棒状或指状,形状较为规则。栽培植物根瘤多为粉红色,而野生揿为白色、黄色或棕色。ＡＲＡ测定表明,２５．６％根瘤为无效根瘤。不同种不同地区根瘤固氮活性相差较大,一般活力都较低,乙炔还原活性小１μｍｏｌＣ２Ｈ４／ｇＦＷ．ｈ的占检测样品数的２９．９％,最高者信为２８．１９     

豆科植物SHR-SCR模块——根瘤“奠基细胞”的命运推手

豆科植物-根瘤菌共生固氮是可持续性农业氮肥的最重要来源。根瘤作为豆科植物共生固氮的一种特化植物侧生器官, 提供了根瘤菌生物固氮必需的微环境, 是根瘤菌的安身之本, 因此, 根瘤的正常发育是实现豆科植物-根瘤菌共生固氮的结构基础。根瘤器官的从头发生主要起始于根瘤菌诱导的根皮层细胞分裂。通常认为豆科植物的根皮层具备有别于非豆科植物根皮层的某种特异属性, 从而响应根瘤菌并与之建立固氮共生, 但长期以来该属性决定的分子机制一直不明确。近日, 中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心王二涛团队以蒺藜苜蓿(Medicago truncatula)等豆科植物和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)等非豆科植物为研究对象, 发现豆科植物中保守的SHR-SCR干细胞模块决定了其皮层细胞分裂潜能从而赋予根瘤器官发生的命运。该研究揭示了豆科植物根瘤发育的全新机制, 提供了研究和理解植物-根瘤菌固氮共生进化的重要线索, 对提高豆科作物固氮效率和非豆科作物固氮工程具有重要意义。     

The Legume SHR-SCR Module Predetermines Nodule Founder Cell Identity

豆科植物-根瘤菌共生固氮是可持续性农业氮肥的最重要来源。根瘤作为豆科植物共生固氮的一种特化植物侧生器官, 提供了根瘤菌生物固氮必需的微环境, 是根瘤菌的安身之本, 因此, 根瘤的正常发育是实现豆科植物-根瘤菌共生固氮的结构基础。根瘤器官的从头发生主要起始于根瘤菌诱导的根皮层细胞分裂。通常认为豆科植物的根皮层具备有别于非豆科植物根皮层的某种特异属性, 从而响应根瘤菌并与之建立固氮共生, 但长期以来该属性决定的分子机制一直不明确。近日, 中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心王二涛团队以蒺藜苜蓿(Medicago truncatula)等豆科植物和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)等非豆科植物为研究对象, 发现豆科植物中保守的SHR-SCR干细胞模块决定了其皮层细胞分裂潜能从而赋予根瘤器官发生的命运。该研究揭示了豆科植物根瘤发育的全新机制, 提供了研究和理解植物-根瘤菌固氮共生进化的重要线索, 对提高豆科作物固氮效率和非豆科作物固氮工程具有重要意义。     

浅谈植物的根瘤

一些植物的根部能形成各种各样的瘤状物,其中有一种可以固定大气中氮素的瘤,即通常所谓的根瘤。人们对豆科植物的根瘤的认识,曾经历过一段漫长的时间,而对于豆科植物以外的其它类型的植物根瘤,特别是这类根瘤和豆科植物根瘤之间的区别。是否一切植物根瘤都能固氮?不固氮的植物能不能使它固氮?其途径和前景又如何?这些问     

与某些非豆科植物共生的弗兰克氏菌(Frankia sp.)的泡囊及其固氮作用

非豆科植物的共生固氮作用大多数是由弗兰克氏菌的侵染形成根瘤引起。其中泡囊是弗氏菌在根瘤内的固氮场所(Akkermans等1977,Tjepkema等1981)。我们采用光学及电子显微镜对泡囊进行了观察,并对根瘤不同部位的泡囊数量及其固氮活性与其它生理活性的关系进行了研究。     

高氮抑制豆科植物结瘤固氮机制研究进展

豆科植物通过与根瘤菌共生,形成根瘤并进行生物固氮。豆科植物的结瘤固氮作用在农业上具有减肥增效、改良土壤等重大意义。然而,高氮会抑制豆科植物结瘤固氮,形成"氮阻遏"效应。着重论述了高氮抑制豆科植物结瘤的分子机制,包括氮素通过结瘤自调控AON(Autoregulation of nodulation)信号、NLP(NIN-like protein)转录因子、植物激素信号等途径抑制根瘤数目和发育的最新进展;并探讨了高氮抑制根瘤固氮活性的假说及争议,包括亚硝酸盐毒性和碳饥饿等,以期为提高豆科植物应对"氮阻遏"效应提供理论基础。     

几种非豆科植物根瘤内生菌侵染特征的研究

自不同科、属、种的非豆科植物根瘤分离内生菌,对其寄主植物进行了交叉侵染,结果表明,这些Frankia菌对不同寄主的侵染没有明显的专一性,供试菌可以进行跨越科、属、种的侵染,但有的菌株对于某些植物的侵染,可能存在一些特殊情况,相同菌株对不同植物的侵染能力,以及不同菌株对同一寄主的侵染能力是有差异的。从同一种植物根瘤中分离的不同菌株,侵染能力也有高低之分,供试菌随寄主植物的改变,侵染能力及所建立的共生系统固氮活性有所降低,侵染原寄主植物所形成的根瘤固氮活性较高的菌株,在改变寄主后所形成的根瘤固氮活性也比较高,在一定条件下,寄主植物的结瘤量与根瘤固氮活性呈正相关,而侵染不同寄主后,根瘤中菌体孢子的表面结构也发生了一定变化。     

几种非豆科植物根瘤内生菌侵染特征的研究

自不同科、属、种的非豆科植物根瘤分离内生菌,对其寄主植物进行了交叉侵染,结果表明,这些Frankia菌对不同寄主的侵染没有明显的专一性,供试菌可以进行跨越科、属、种的侵染,但有的菌株对于某些植物的侵染,可能存在一些特殊情况,相同菌株对不同植物的侵染能力,以及不同菌株对同一寄主的侵染能力是有差异的。从同一种植物根瘤中分离的不同菌株,侵染能力也有高低之分,供试菌随寄主植物的改变,侵染能力及所建立的共生系统固氮活性有所降低,侵染原寄主植物所形成的根瘤固氮活性较高的菌株,在改变寄主后所形成的根瘤固氮活性也比较高,在一定条件下,寄主植物的结瘤量与根瘤固氮活性呈正相关,而侵染不同寄主后,根瘤中菌体孢子的表面结构也发生了一定变化。     

Nitrogen Fixation in Wild Legumes

Isolations of the rhizobia from nodules of field plants of Ulexeuropaeus and Medicago lupulina have been examined for effectivenessin fixation of nitrogen by inoculating them into host plantsgrowing in a medium free of combined nitrogen. The results indicatethat vigorous fixation may be presumed to occur in associationwith field plants of the Ulex species, but that fixation inMedicago is probably decreased by the presence of ineffectiverhizobia in some nodules. The general importance of fixationin wild legumes is discussed, and it is pointed out that dueattention must be paid to non-legume genera with root nodules.These genera are locally abundant, and in former periods werestill more prominent in some regions of the world.     

Development of the nitrogen fixing apparatus in the legumes,Centrosema pubescens Benth., and Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.

The sequence of events leading up to the establishment of symbiotic nitrogen-fixation were studied in two tropical legumes, Centrosema pubescens Benth, and Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Parameters measured included fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll and leghaemoglobin contents, as well as the activities of NADH-nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1), and nitrogenase (nitric-oxide reductase-EC 1.7.99.2) in plants that were inoculated with suitable rhizobia or which were watered with potassium nitrate. Dry weight and photosynthetic activity of both species followed the sigmoidal pattern which is characteristic of most plants. Growth was little different in either a qualitative or quantitative sense whether nitrogen was supplied as nitrate or through dinitrogen fixation. Although the biochemical sequence of events was dependent on the limiting sensitivities of the individual assays used, the data suggest that nitrate reductase is the first measurable enzymatic activity in the nodules (and roots), followed by acetylene reduction and leghaemoglobin in that order. It is possible therefore, that low levels of symbiotic nitrogen fixation occur in the nodules in the absence of leghaemoglobin. Nitrate reductase activity in C. pubescens nodules was negatively exponentially correlated with nitrogenase activity of the same nodules, suggesting a changing metabolism in old nodules. These data are discussed in terms of environmental and physical factors known to control nitrogen fixation.     

Nitrogen fixation by three species of leguminosae in the Canadian High Arctic Tundra

Abstract. Significant levels of nitrogenase activity (nitrogen fixation) were demonstrated in three species of Arctic legumes ( Oxytropis maydelliana, O. arctobia and Astragalus alpinus ) growing in high tundra at Sarcpa Lake, Melville Peninsula, N.W.T. Nitrogenase activity of intact plants was correlated with the number of nodules per plant, with field soil temperatures and limited by water shortage. Activity in freshly detached nodules showed a plateau of maximum activity between 10°C and 25°C and a near linear decline with temperature down to 0°C. Unusually, the segmented nodules of all three species are perennial in which growth and leghaemoglobin production resumes each spring from an overwintering apical meristem. Nodules are most numerous in the warmer soil stratum (2–10 cm. depth). Other studies indicate that the arctic rhizobia belong to a single cold-adapted species which has co-evolved with the legumes of tundra.     

Growth and nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula under NaCl stress: nodule carbon metabolism

Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula model legumes, which form determined and indeterminate nodules, respectively, provide a convenient system to study plant-Rhizobium interaction and to establish differences between the two types of nodules under salt stress conditions. We examined the effects of 25 and 50mM NaCl doses on growth and nitrogen fixation parameters, as well as carbohydrate content and carbon metabolism of M. truncatula and L. japonicus nodules. The leghemoglobin (Lb) content and nitrogen fixation rate (NFR) were approximately 10.0 and 2.0 times higher, respectively, in nodules of L. japonicus when compared with M. truncatula. Plant growth parameters and nitrogenase activity decreased with NaCl treatments in both legumes. Sucrose was the predominant sugar quantified in nodules of both legumes, showing a decrease in concentration in response to salt stress. The content of trehalose was low (less than 2.5% of total soluble sugars (TSS)) to act as an osmolyte in nodules, despite its concentration being increased under saline conditions. Nodule enzyme activities of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalase (TRE) decreased with salinity. L. japonicus nodule carbon metabolism proved to be less sensitive to salinity than in M. truncatula, as enzymatic activities responsible for the carbon supply to the bacteroids to fuel nitrogen fixation, such as sucrose synthase (SS), alkaline invertase (AI), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), were less affected by salt than the corresponding activities in barrel medics. However, nitrogenase activity was only inhibited by salinity in L. japonicus nodules.     

Nitrogen fixation in several grain legume species with contrasting sensitivities to copper nutrition

The nitrogen fixation response to copper nutrition in faba bean, yellow lupin and soybean was studied. Copper nutrition significantly increased the pod yields of all tested grain legumes but faba bean gave the greatest Cu-use efficiency for pod and grain production. The accumulation of dry matter in vegetative parts, nodules, N and leghemoglobin concentration in nodules and nitrogen accumulation in the whole plants were increased by copper supply in faba bean and yellow lupin in contrast with soybean. Cu nutrition significantly increased the Cu concentrations in nodules of all cultivated plants. The differential sensitivity of N₂ fixation in tested grain legume species to copper nutrition could be connected with the level of phenols in nodules and depended on both the host plants and strains of rhizobia, which differ in their ability to produce catechol-like siderophores. Copper requirements by symbiotic N₂ fixation could also depend on the nature of phenols in nodules (presence of o-dihydroxyphenols or number of hydroxyls in molecule).     

The application of ascorbate or its immediate precursor, galactono-1,4-lactone, does not affect the response of nitrogen-fixing pea nodules to water stress

Nitrogen fixation in legumes is dramatically inhibited by abiotic stresses, and this reduction is often associated with oxidative damage. Although ascorbate (ASC) has been firmly associated with antioxidant defence, recent studies have suggested that the functions of ASC are related primarily to developmental processes. This study examines the hypothesis that ASC is involved in alleviating the oxidative damage to nodules caused by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) under water stress. The hypothesis was tested by supplying 5 mM ASC to pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) experiencing moderate water stress (ca. −1 MPa) and monitoring plant responses in relation to those experiencing the same water stress without ASC. A supply of exogenous ASC increased the nodule ASC+dehydroascorbate (DHA) pool compared to water-stressed nodules without ASC, and significantly modulated the response to water stress of the unspecific guaiacol peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) in leaves and nodules. However, ASC supply did not produce recovery from water stress in other nodule antioxidant enzymes, nodule carbon and nitrogen enzymes, or nitrogen fixation. The supply of the immediate ASC precursor, galactono-1,4-lactone (GL), increased the nodule ASC+DHA pool, but also failed to prevent the decline of nitrogen fixation and the reduction of carbon flux in nodules. These results suggest that ASC has a limited role in preventing the negative effects of water stress on nodule metabolism and nitrogen fixation.     

Nodulation of native woody legumes in Hong Kong, China

Woody legumes can play an important role in forest restoration on degraded land but the knowledge of woody legumes has lagged behind their uses. This study is a pioneer investigation to explore the ability of native woody legumes to form root nodules and fix nitrogen in Hong Kong. Nine sites of different habitat types were surveyed during both wet and dry seasons for two years. Young plants of woody legumes along studied transects were excavated. The patterns of nodulation and nodule morphology were recorded and the nitrogen fixing ability was tested by acetylene-reduction-assay. Twenty-eight species in 16 genera were examined, of which 20 species were nodulating and eight non-nodulating, including all six species in the Caesalpinioideae. Five species were new records to the world’s nodulation inventory. Bowringia callicarpa was a new species and genus examined, which was non-nodulating. The overall nodulation pattern was consistent with previous studies. Nodulation was more profuse in some shrub species while inconsistent in most tree species. Species with higher proportion of nodulated individual plants also tended to have more nodules in each plant. Spherical nodules were common in shrub and woody climber species whilst tree species usually had woody indeterminate nodules. Seasonal difference in the amount of senescent nodules was noted in most species. All the nodules tested by acetylene-reduction-assay were effectively nitrogen-fixing, with nitrogenase activity ranging from 4 μmol C₂H₄ g^?1 h^?1 to 20 μmol C₂H₄ g^?1 h^?1, which was comparable to other tropical tree species. The findings in nodulation pattern and nitrogen fixing ability of these species are essential in their application in forest restoration on degraded lands.     

The Respiratory Costs of Nitrogen Fixation in Soyabean, Cowpea, and White Clover: II. COMPARISONS OF THE COST OF NITROGEN FIXATION AND THE UTILIZATION OF COMBINED NITROGEN

Plants of soyabean, cowpea, and white clover were grown singlyin pots in Saxcil growth cabinets at 23/18 °C, 30/24 °C,and 20/15 °C, respectively, until seed maturation or for85 d (white clover). Two populations were produced within eachspecies: one population effectively nodulated and wholly dependentfor nitrogen on fixation in the root nodules, and a second populationcompletely lacking nodules but receiving abundant nitrate nitrogen.In each species, the two populations were compared in termsof rate of gross photosynthesis, rate of shoot respiration,and rate of root respiration. Source of nitrogen had littleor no effect on rate of photosynthesis or shoot respiration.In contrast, the rate of respiration of the nodulated rootsof plants fixing their own nitrogen was greater, sometimes two-foldgreater, than that of equivalent plants lacking nodules andutilizing nitrate nitrogen. This superiority in terms of rateof root respiration was generally confined to the period ofintense nitrogen fixation. An analysis of the magnitude of thisrespiratory burden in terms of daily photosynthesis indicatesthat, in all three legumes, plants fixing their own nitrogenrespire 11–13% more of their fixed carbon each day thanequivalent plants lacking nodules and utilizing nitrate nitrogen.     

Nitrate reductase activities of rhizobia and the correlation between nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation.

All species of Rhizobium except R. lupini had nitrate reductase activity. Only R. lupini was incapable of growth with nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen. However, the conditions necessary for the induction of nitrate reductase varied among species of Rhizobium. Rhizobium japonicum and some Rhizobium species of the cowpea strains expressed nitrate reductase activities both in the root nodules of appropriate leguminous hosts and when grown in the presence of nitrate. Rhizobium trifolii, R. phaseoli, and R. leguminosarum did not express nitrate reductase activities in the root nodules, but they did express them when grown in the presence of nitrate. In bacteroids of R. japonicum and some strains of cowpea Rhizobium, high N2 fixation activities were accompanied by high nitrate reductase activities. In bacteroids of R. trifolii, R. leguminosarum, and R. phaseoli, high N2 fixation activities were not accompanied by high nitrate reductase activities.