Comparison of nucleotide diversity and symbiotic properties of Rhizobium meliloti populations from annual Medicago species

Abstract: Forty-three isolates of Rhizobium meliloti were trapped from soil with five annual species of Medicago (M. polymorpha, M. truncatula, M. rigidula, M. orbicularis and M. minima ) and one perennial species of Medicago (M. sativa) . The annual species were growing naturally near the soil sampling site, and the commonly studied perennial species was used for comparison. Each R. meliloti was characterized by PCR-RFLP methods applied to two DNA regions nested between 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes and between nif D and nif K genes. They fell into two highly divergent groups (groups I and II), separated at a genetic distance of 0.024 by rDNA-amplified pattern analysis (profiles R1 and R2) and at 0.029 by nif -amplified pattern analysis (profiles N1-N2 and N3). These two groups were consistent with some cross-nodulation and -fixation results: rhizobia with the R1 genetic background elicited rudimentary nodules and could not fix nitrogen on M. polymorpha , while they were able to nodulate the five other species of Medicago . In contrast, rhizobia with an R2 profile were highly effective on M. polymorpha and poorly nodulated M. rigidula species, but were able to nodulate efficiently the other species. The striking phenotypic traits on M. polymorpha were also shared by reference strains: strains genetically closed to R2 type triggered typical and efficient nodules on M. polymorpha while those close to R1 type elicited rudimentary and non-efficient ones. Our results suggest that the presence of R. meliloti with R2 genetic backgrounds could be favoured by the distribution of M. polymorpha species.     

Ecological genetics of Rhizobium meliloti: symbiotic plasmid transfer in the Medicago sativa rhizosphere

A potentially important aspect of the ecological genetics of fast-growing rhizobia is lateral transfer of symbiosis-related genes between strains in the host-legume rhizosphere. We have therefore characterized transfer of the Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiotic (Sym) plasmids pJB5JI and pSymR1897 to strain WL113, a non-attaching, non-nodulating Rhizobium meliloti recipient, in the rhizosphere of its legume host Medicago sativa. Interspecific transfer of pJB5JI generated symbiotically proficient transconjugants of WL113, demonstrating that a mechanism exists for genetic flux in indigenous R. meliloti populations in response to selection pressure provided by the host legume. This could generate fluid groupings of R. meliloti rather than discrete and stable strains.     

Regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in root nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) infected with Rhizobium meliloti

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of Rhizobium meliloti bacteroids in Medicago sativa root nodules was suppressed by several inorganic nitrogen sources. Amino acids like glutamine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, which can serve as sole nitrogen sources for the unnodulated plant did not influence nitrogenase activity of effective nodules, even at high concentrations.Ammonia and nitrate suppressed symbiotic nitrogen fixation in vivo only at concentrations much higher than those needed for suppression of nitrogenase activity in free living nitrogen fixing bacteria. The kinetics of suppression were slow compared with that of free living nitrogen fixing bacteria. On the other hand, nitrite, which acts as a direct inhibitor of nitrogenase, suppressed very quickly and at low concentrations. Glutamic acid and glutamine enhanced the effect of ammonia dramatically, while the suppression by nitrate was enhanced only slightly.     

钙离子对紫花苜蓿及苜蓿根瘤菌耐酸能力的影响

土壤酸性是阻碍苜蓿根瘤菌与其宿主紫花苜蓿之间高效共生固氮的重要环境因子.本文研究了Ca2 对紫花苜蓿及苜蓿根瘤菌耐酸能力的影响.结果表明:加入一定浓度的Ca2 (5和10mmol·L-1)能提高苜蓿根瘤菌的生长速率,使苜蓿根瘤菌提前进入对数生长期.中性pH条件下,Ca2 的加入对苜蓿根毛变形率无显著影响;低pH条件下,加入2、5和10mmol·L-1的Ca2 均可提高根毛变形率,Ca2 浓度越高,其影响越显著,说明低pH下Ca2 可能会促进苜蓿根瘤菌与其宿主之间的识别.低pH条件下加入Ca2 可以使苜蓿结瘤提前,结瘤率提高;结瘤动力学检测结果表明,加入一定浓度的Ca2 可以使同期结瘤数增加,越是结瘤后期,环境pH越低,这种表现越明显.     

Variation in Preference for Rhizobium meliloti Within and Between Medicago sativa Cultivars Grown in Soil

Variation in nodulation preferences for Rhizobium strains within and between Medicago sativa cultivars was assessed in the greenhouse with plants grown in Leonard jars and two soils of diverse origin (Lanark and Ottawa), using inocula consisting of effective individual or paired strains of R. meliloti which could be recognized by high-concentration antibiotic resistance. The results indicated considerable variability in host preferences for R. meliloti among plants within cultivars but not between cultivars. The implications of this variation are discussed from the point of view of possible improvement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. With one exception, the differences in nodulation success between inoculant R. meliloti strains were consistent in Leonard jars and both soils. All introduced strains formed significantly more nodules in Renfrew soil containing few native rhizobia than in Ottawa soil with a large resident R. meliloti population. Plants grown in Lanark soil without inoculation were ineffectively nodulated by native rhizobia and yielded significantly less growth than those receiving inoculation. In contrast, the yield of inoculated plants in Ottawa soil did not significantly differ from those without inoculation due to effective nodulation by native R. meliloti. The data indicated synergistic effects on yield by certain paired strain inocula relative to the same strains inoculated individually in Lanark but not in Ottawa soil or Leonard jars.     

Use of green fluorescent protein to visualize the early events of symbiosis between Rhizobium meliloti and alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

A gene encoding a variant of green fluorescent protein (GFP) of Aequorea victoria was put under the control of a promoter which is constitutive in Rhizobium meliloti. The heterologous GFP gene was expressed at high levels during all stages of symbiosis, allowing R. meliloti cells to be visualized as they grew in the rhizosphere, on the root surface, and inside infection threads. In addition, nodules that were infected with bacteria which were synthesizing GFP fluoresced when illuminated with blue light. GFP-tagged bacteria could be seen inside infection threads, providing the opportunity to measure the growth rate and determine the patterns of growth of R. meliloti residing inside its host plant.     

A note on evidence for involvement of pectolytic enzymes in the infection process of Medicago sativa by Rhizobium meliloti

Evidence has been obtained of the implication of pectolytic enzymes in the infection of alfalfa roots by Rhizobium meliloti.     

Influence of Location, Host Cultivar, and Inoculation on the Composition of Naturalized Populations of Rhizobium meliloti in Medicago sativa Nodules

A phage typing system was used to evaluate the composition of indigenous populations of Rhizobium meliloti inhabiting nodules of Medicago sativa cultivars grown with and without inoculation at two field sites during 1983 and 1984. Soil at both locations contained established populations of R. meliloti at planting. Analysis of 1,920 nodule isolates revealed 55 unique phage types of indigenous R. meliloti at one site and 65 indigenous types at the other location. The distributions of phage types differed markedly between locations. At one site, the nodule population was dominated by two phage types; seven others occurred consistently but at lower frequency, and the remainder were encountered infrequently. No indigenous types predominated at the other location, although nine occurred more frequently than the remaining types. Indigenous R. meliloti predominated in nodules from inoculated plots at both sites, with inoculant recovery varying between 10 and 38% in each of two years. The frequency of occurrence of particular phage types at one location was significantly influenced by both M. sativa cultivar and inoculation. At this location, the interaction of cultivar and inoculation on the incidence of phage types suggests that the presence of an inoculant strain differentially affected nodule occupancy of M. sativa cultivars by members of the indigenous R. meliloti population. At both sites, the frequency of specific phage types differed between years. The data emphasize the importance of understanding the ecology and characteristics of indigenous Rhizobium populations as a prerequisite for elucidating problems of inoculant establishment and persistence in competitive situations.     

Enhanced competitiveness for nodulation of Medicago sativa by Rhizobium meliloti transconjugants harbouring the root-inducing plasmids of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 15834

Abstract The root-inducing plasmid of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 15834 marked with transposon Tn5-mob with a helper plasmid RP4-4 was mobilized into nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium meliloti strain CIAM 1759. The resulting transconjugants did not induce ‘hairy’ root syndrome but developed nitrogen-fixing nodules on alfalfa. Among the 9 transconjugants tested, 6 strains had increased nodulation rates. The competitiveness of 2 of these R. meliloti (pRi) strains was significantly enhanced as compared with the parent strain CIAM 1759; this was confirmed both in tube and in pot tests.     

Enhanced competitiveness for nodulation of Medicago sativa by Rhizobium meliloti transconjugants harbouring the root-inducing plasmids of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 15834

Abstract The root-inducing plasmid of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 15834 marked with transposon Tn 5 -mob RP4-4 with a helper plasmid was mobilized into nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium meliloti strain CIAM 1759. The resulting transconjugants did not induce ‘hairy’ root syndrome but developed nitrogen-fixing nodules on alfalfa. Among the 9 transconjugants tested, 6 strains had increased modulation rates. The competitiveness of 2 of these R. meliloti (pRi) strains was significantly enhanced as compared with the parent strain CIAM 1759; this was confirmed both in tube and in pot tests.     

The model symbiotic association between Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong and Rhizobium meliloti strain 2011 leads to N-stressed plants when symbiotic N2 fixation is the main N source for plant growth

A better knowledge of the nitrogen nutrition of Medicago truncatula at the whole plant level and its modulation by environmental factors is a crucial step to reach a complete understanding of legume nitrogen nutrition. This study was based on the symbiotic system that is the most commonly used by the research community (M. truncatula cv. Jemalong A17 x Rhizobium meliloti strain 2011). Plant nitrogen nutrition was analysed in relation to carbon nutrition, under a range of nitrate concentrations in the nutrient solution and different light conditions. This study shows that this 'model symbiotic association' does not allow the plant to meet its nitrogen requirements, when dinitrogen fixation is the main nitrogen source for plant growth. A strong interaction between nitrogen and carbon nutrition was shown: when plant nitrogen requirements were not sustained, plant leaf area was much affected whereas photosynthesis per unit leaf area remained relatively stable. Both total nitrogen uptake and leaf area increased with increasing nitrate concentration in the nutrient solution; the magnitude of these responses varied according to the light conditions. Interestingly, the plant nitrogen nutrition level remained nearly unaffected by the light conditions. The observed nitrogen-limitation in this 'model symbiotic association' is an important finding for the research community. Based on practical recommendations regarding both the experimental conditions and the phenotypic traits to consider, a methodological framework was proposed to (i) help genomicists to assess plant nitrogen nutrition better, and (ii) assist in the detection of new genetic variants affected for nitrogen uptake in large-scale phenotyping studies.     

Rhizobium meliloti inoculation of alfalfa selected for tolerance to acid,aluminum-rich soils

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growth and nodulation in acid soil is reduced because the plant and its bacterial symbiontRhizobium meliloti cannot tolerate acid, aluminum-rich soil. A study was conducted to determine if a relatively acid-tolerant alfalfa germplasm combined with a relatively acid-tolerantR. meliloti strain could overcome these limitations. In a light room study, an acid-tolerant alfalfa germplasm inoculated with a more acid-tolerantR. meliloti strain produced greater top growth, nodule number and weight, and acetylene reduction values in an unlimed soil (pH 4.6) than the same germplasm inoculated with a relatively acid-sensitiveR. meliloti strain or an acid-sensitive germplasm inoculated with either a relatively acid-tolerant or acid-sensitiveR. meliloti strain.     

Expression and quantification of firefly luciferase under control of Rhizobium meliloti symbiotic promoters

We have tested the use of firefly luciferase for monitoring regulated symbiotic nitrogen fixation gene expression. Broad-host-range plasmids carrying translational fusions of Rhizobium meliloti nifH, fixA and nifA promoters were constructed. Despite low levels of promoter activity the absence of Escherichia coli endogenous luminescence and the high sensitivity of the bioluminescent assay for firefly luciferase allowed rapid screening for functional luciferase expression. Plasmids containing symbiotic promoter-luc fusions were established in R. meliloti. Luciferase activity was detected and measured in both vegetative and symbiotic cells giving comparable results with those obtained by beta-galactosidase assays. In addition, the luciferase assay was quicker, more sensitive and could be carried out with unrestricted cells. Furthermore, bioluminescence was high enough in alfalfa nodules containing nifH—luc fusion to be observed by a dark-adapted eye and photographed.     

Influence of drought on competition between selected Rhizobium meliloti strains and naturalized soil rhizobia in alfalfa

Drought is an important environmental factor that can affect rhizobial competition and N₂ fixation. Three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. and M. falcata L.) accessions were grown in pots containing soil from an irrigated (Soil 1) and a dryland (Soil 2) alfalfa field in northern Utah, USA. Mutants of three strains of Rhizobium meliloti Dang. from Pakistan (UL 136, UL 210, and UL 222) and a commercial rhizobial strain 102F51a were developed with various levels of resistance to streptomycin. Seeds inoculated with these individual streptomycin-resistant mutants were sown in the two soils containing naturalized rhizobial populations. Soils in the pots were maintained at −0.03, −0.5, and −1.0 MPa. After 10 weeks, plants were harvested and nodule isolates were cultured on agar medium with and without streptomycin to determine nodule occupancy (proportion of the nodules occupied by introduced rhizobial strains). Number of nodules, nodule occupancy, total plant dry weight, and shoot N were higher for Soil 1 than Soil 2. Number of nodules, plant dry weight, and shoot N decreased as drought increased from −0.03 to −1.0 MPa in the three alfalfa accessions. Rhizobial strains UL 136 and UL 222 were competitive with naturalized alfalfa rhizobia and were effective at symbiotic N₂ fixation under drought. These results suggest that nodulation, growth, and N₂ fixation in alfalfa can be improved by inoculation with competitive and drought-tolerant rhizobia and may be one economically feasible way to increase alfalfa production in water-limited environments. Joint contribution from USDA-ARS and the Utah Agric. Exp. Sta., Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322-4810, USA. Journal Paper No. 4931. Joint contribution from USDA-ARS and the Utah Agric. Exp. Sta., Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322-4810, USA. Journal Paper No. 4931.     

Derivatives of Rhizobium meliloti strains carrying a plasmid of Rhizobium leguminosarum specifying hydrogen uptake and pea-specific symbiotic functions

pIJ1008, a Rhizobium leguminosarum plasmid which determines hydrogen uptake ability and symbiotic functions in pea was transferable to three of seven natural isolates of R. meliloti tested. In these three strains, pIJ1008 was maintained stably with the respective sym megaplasmid indigenous to each R. meliloti strain. These strains carrying both plasmids nodulated alfalfa but not pea. By reisolation and examination of the strains from alfalfa nodule tissue, it was shown that pIJ1008 continued to be maintained but that pea-nodulation ability was suppressed.In one strain of R. meliloti which carries a 200 kb cryptic plasmid (in addition to a megaplasmid), the transfer and selection for pIJ1008 resulted in the loss of the cryptic plasmid.In three separate plant growth experiments, alfalfa nodules induced by each of the R. meliloti strain carrying both sym plasmids were assayed for hydrogen uptake activity. The average activity was 40-, 3.5-and 2-fold higher than with the respective pIJ1008-free strains. However, this higher activity was not accompanied by an increase in plant biomass or nitrogen content of shoots.C.B.R.I. Contribution Number: 1478     

Effects of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] on photosynthetic pigments, stomatal response and photosynthetic electron transport in Medicago sativa and Trifolium pratense

Stomatal response, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and photosynthetic electron transport were investigated in Medicago sativa L. (cv. Aragón) and Trifolium pratense L. (cv. Violeta) after plants were exposed to various glyphosate [ N -(phophonomethyl)glycine] concentrations. The herbicide decreased the content of photosynthetic pigments when applied at concentrations of 0.15, 1.5 and 15 m M , showing a greater effect on chlorophyll pigments than on carotenoids. The chlorophyll a / b ratio increased as a consequence of a major effect on chlorophyll b. Glyphosate treatment (15 m M ) led to a closure of stomates after seven days in both species. The results suggest that glyphosate acts as an electron transport inhibitor, because glyphosate pre-incubated chloroplasts, isolated from control plants, showed reduced photosystem II and photosystem I activities. In general, clover was more sensitive to glyphosate than glyphosate, lucerne.     

The response of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to sodium sulphate and chloride salinity

Sodium and sulphate-dominated salinity is a serious environmental problem occurring in soils and groundwater in many parts of the world. The effect of Na2SO4 and NaCl, at electrical conductivity levels ranging from 2 to 17 dS m-1, on the growth and tissue ion concentrations of 16 lines of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) was examined in the greenhouse over a 2 month period. Averaged across all lines, plants grown at 17 dS m-1 produced 66% of the dry matter of plants grown at 2 dS m-1. However there were significant differences among lines in relative salt tolerance (as defined by the slope of the reduction in dry matter) versus electrical conductivity. Dry matter production was negatively correlated with shoot concentrations of Na+, Cl- and S2- and generally lines that were more tolerant to salinity had lower concentrations of those ions in the shoots. We conclude that lucerne is moderately tolerant to Na2SO4 -predominated salinity, and that the degree of intraspecific variation that exists within this species will allow more tolerant lines to be selected for establishment in conditions where sulphate salinity is a problem.Collaborator     

Chemical studies on the lipopolysaccharide of Rhizobium meliloti 10406 and its lipid A region

The structure of the lipopolysaccharide from Rhizobium meliloti 10406, a derivative of the wild-type strain MVII-1, was examined. The compositional analysis of its polysaccharide moiety demonstrated lack of heptose(s), but high contents in glucose, galacturonic acid and 2-keto-3-deoxy-octonate (dOclA) as characteristic features. The lipid A moiety consisted of a -1,6 linked glucosamine disaccharide carrying ester (at C-4) and glycosidically (at C-1) linked phosphate residues, both present exclusively as monoester phosphates but not as phosphodiesters. Ester- and amidelinked 3-hydroxy fatty acids were mostly present as non-3-O-acylated residues. Laser desorption mass spectrometry (LD-MS) revealed heterogeneity in the fatty acid substitution, as was also indicated by the non-stoichiometric ratios obtained by quantitative fatty acid analysis. The predominating lipid A structure contained at the reducing glucosamine residue ester-linked 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acid (3-OH-14:0) and amide-linked 3-OH-18:0, or 3-OH-18:1, respectively. The distal (non-reducing) glucosamine carried ester-bound the recently discovered 27-hydroxyoctacosanoic acid and 3-OH-14:0 and, as amide-linked fatty acid, mostly 3-hydroxy-stearic acid (3-OH-18:0).The isolated lipopolysaccharide exhibited a high extent of lethal toxicity in galactosamine-treated mice, comparable to that of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharide. The structural relationship of LPS and lipid A of Rhizobium meliloti to other rhizobial lipopolysaccharides and lipid A's with respect to questions of taxonomy and of phylogenetic relationships will be discussed.Abbreviations LPS lipopolysaccharide - dOclA 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid (KDO) - GalA galacturonic acid - DOC sodium deoxycholate - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - LD-MS laser desorption-mass spectrometry