Root nodule bacteria isolated from South African <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lotononis bainesii,L. listii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. solitudinis</Emphasis> are species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylobacterium</Emphasis> that are unable to utilize methanol

The South African legumes Lotononis bainesii, L. listii and L. solitudinis are specifically nodulated by highly effective, pink-pigmented bacteria that are most closely related to Methylobacterium nodulans on the basis of 16S rRNA gene homology. Methylobacterium spp. are characterized by their ability to utilize methanol and other C₁ compounds, but 11 Lotononis isolates neither grew on methanol as a sole carbon source nor were able to metabolize it. No product was obtained for PCR amplification of mxaF, the gene encoding the large subunit of methanol dehydrogenase. Searches for methylotrophy genes in the sequenced genome of Methylobacterium sp. 4-46, isolated from L. bainesii, indicate that the inability to utilize methanol may be due to the absence of the mxa operon. While methylotrophy appears to contribute to the effectiveness of the Crotalaria/M. nodulans symbiosis, our results indicate that the ability to utilize methanol is not a factor in the Lotononis/Methylobacterium symbiosis.     

Assessing Genotypic Diversity and Symbiotic Efficiency of Five Rhizobial Legume Interactions Under Cadium Stress for Soil Phytoremediation

In the framework of soil phytoremediation using local legume plants coupled with their native root-nodulating bacteria to increase forage yields and preserve contaminated soils in arid regions of Tunisia, we investigated the diversity of bacteria from root nodules of Lathyrus sativus, Lens culinaris, Medicago marina, M. truncatula, and M. minima and the symbiotic efficiency of these five legume symbiosis under Cadmium stress. Fifty bacterial strains were characterized using physiological and biochemical features such heavy metals resistant, and PCR-RFLP of 16S rDNA. Taxonomically, the isolates nodulating L. sativus, and L. culinaris are species within the genera Rhizobium and the ones associated to Medicago sp, within the genera Sinorhizobium. The results revealed also that the cadmium tolerance of the different legumes-rhizobia interaction was as follows: M. minima<M. truncatula<M. marina<L. sativus<L. culinaris indicating that the effect of Cadmium on root nodulation and biomass production is more deleterious on M. minima-S. meliloti and M. truncatula-S. meliloti than in other symbiosis. Knowledge on genetic and functional diversity of M. marina, L. sativus and L. culinaris microsymbiotes is very useful for inoculant strain selection and can be selected to develop inoculants for soil phytoremediation.     

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.

     

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.     

Lagenophrys anticthos N. Sp. and L. aegleae Mouchet-Bennati, 1932 (Ciliophora,Peritricha, Lagenophryidae), Ectocommensals of South American Crustaceans1

ABSTRACT. Lagenophrys anticthos n. sp. resembles L. aegleae Mouchet-Bennati; however, the two species are distinguished from one another by differences in the structure of the lorica aperture. Similarities in the shape of the lorica and macronucleus indicate a close phylogenetic relationship between L. anticthos and L. aegleae. The size of L. anticthos varies greatly within a population, and it is unclear whether this can be attributed to genetic differences or to environmental factors. In L. anticthos, variation in the form of the lips of the lorica aperture is correlated with variation in size. The brown, iron-rich incrustations observed around the loricae of L. aegleae by an earlier worker were not seen, indicating that the incrustations do not play a role in the symbiosis between L. aegleae and its host as was previously thought.     

Cultivar-specificity genes of the nitrogen-fixing soybean symbiont,Rhizobium fredii USDA257, also regulate nodulation of Erythrina SPP.

Rhizobium fredii USDA257 is a Gram-negative soil bacterium from China that fixes nitrogen in symbiosis with primitive soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivars such as Peking, but not with advanced cultivars such as McCall. Mutation of either of two bacterial loci, nolBTUVWX or nolC, removes this cultivar-specificity constraint, allowing the bacterium to nodulate advanced cultivars. We have discovered that USDA257 forms nodules on Erythrina costaricensis M. Micheli, but not on six other species of this genus, which includes trees and shrubs from the tropics. Inactivation of nolBU or nolC broadens the symbiosis to include other Erythrina species. Whereas nolBU-mutants acquire the capacity to nodulate E. fusca Loureiro, E. variegata L., and E. vespertilio Benth., nolC-mutants could nodulate only E. variegata. Nodules are determinate and often clustered in root axils near the root crown. E. variegata nodules containing a nolBU-mutant consist of well-developed inner and outer cortical layers, as well as a bacteroid zone. The cortical layers are separated from one another by a meristematic region that is associated with large darkly staining cells, and cells of the inner cortex contain numerous starch grains. Histochemical staining of E. variegata roots inoculated with a strain containing a nolB-lacZ gene fusion confirms that nolB and nolC are expressed during the initial stages of bacterial interaction with the host. R. fredii enters elongated root-hairs via infection threads, which ramify within root-hairs and are associated with meristematic activity in the adjacent underlying cortical cells.     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizae on biomass and nutrients in the aquatic plant Littorella uniflora

1. It has been hypothesised that the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) leads to a higher uptake of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in aquatic plants, but it has never been shown experimentally without the use of fungicides. In particular, the symbiosis may be important for nutrient uptake by isoetids in oligotrophic lakes, where low concentrations of inorganic N and P both in the water and in the sediment limit the growth of plants and where symbiosis facilitates the uptake of nutrients from the sediment. 2. Plants of the isoetid Littorella uniflora were propagated under the sterile conditions without an AMF infection. The plants were then grown for 60 days with and without re‐infection by AMF, and with either high (150 μm ) or low (ambient concentration approximately 15 μm ) CO₂ concentration. 3. The study proved that the symbiosis between AMF and L. uniflora had a positive impact on the retention of N and P in the plants at very low nutrient concentrations in the water and on biomass development. Shoot biomass and standing stocks of both P and N were significantly higher in re‐infected plants. 4. Raised CO₂ concentration resulted in a fivefold increase in hyphal infection, but had no impact on the number of arbuscules and vesicles in the cross sections. There were significantly higher biomass and lower tissue P and N concentrations in the plants from high CO₂ treatments. This resulted in similar standing stocks of P and N in plants from low and high CO₂ treatments. 5. The results from this study showed that the symbiosis between AMF and L. uniflora is an important adaptation enabling isoetids to grow on nutrient‐poor sediments in oligotrophic lakes.     

Genomic islands in Photorhabdus

Genomic islands are responsible for unique aspects of bacterial behavior such as symbiosis and pathogenicity. Photorhabdus luminescens is a pathogen of insects that spends part of its lifecycle in symbiosis with a nematode. Here, we describe novel genomic islands from Photorhabdus that are involved in symbiosis and pathogenicity, and discuss the inter-relationship between virulence factors used against invertebrates and vertebrates.     

Nod factor-independent ‘crack-entry’ symbiosis in dalbergoid legume Arachis hypogaea

Dalbergoids are typified by crack-entry symbiosis which is evidenced to be Nod Factor (NF)-independent in several Aeschynomene legumes. Natural symbionts of the dalbergoid legume Arachis hypogaea are always NF-producing, prompting us to check whether symbiosis in this legume could also be NF-independent. For this, we followed the symbiosis with two NF-containing bradyrhizobial strains – SEMIA6144, a natural symbiont of Arachis and ORS285, a versatile nodulator of Aeschynomene legumes, along with their corresponding nodulation (nod) mutants. Additionally, we investigated NF-deficient bradyrhizobia like BTAi1, a natural symbiont of Aeschynomene indica and the WBOS strains that were natural endophytes of Oryza sativa, collected from an Arachis-Oryza intercropped field. While SEMIA6144ΔnodC was non-nodulating, both ORS285 and ORS285ΔnodB could induce functional nodulation, although with lower efficiency than SEMIA6144. On the other hand, all the NF-deficient strains – BTAi1, WBOS2 and WBOS4 showed comparable nodulation with ORS285 indicating Arachis to harbour an NF-independent mechanism of symbiosis. Intriguingly, symbiosis in Arachis, irrespective of whether it was NF-dependent or independent, was always associated with the curling or branching of the rosette root hairs at the lateral root bases. Thus, despite being predominantly described as an NF-dependent legume, Arachis does retain a vestigial, less-efficient form of NF-independent symbiosis.     

野生建兰根系共生真菌群落结构及生物学功能

[目的]为探究建兰Cymbidium ensifolium根系共生真菌群落结构及生物学功能.[方法]利用高通量测序技术和FunGulid数据库,对来自湖南省(HN)、福建省(FJ)、贵州省(GZ)和云南省(YN)的4个样品的野生建兰根围土壤、根表和根内3个生态位的共生真菌种群结构与功能进行鉴定和预测.[结果]建兰根系共...     

The symbiotic performance of lupin bacteria under glasshouse and field conditions

Summary Bacteria from the nodules ofLupinus angustifolius L.,L. digitatus Forsk., andL. luteus L. have been isolated, and the symbiotic relationships of nine of these strains and the three lupin species investigated in a glasshouse experiment. All symbioses were effective and no interaction or specificity was detected among the symbionts.Soil factors modified expression of the strains' symbiotic abilities in the field, but several strains have shown successful symbiosis with all three lupin species.One lupin species,L. digitatus, nodulates freely under natural conditions in Western Australia, whereasL. luteus andL. angustifolius do not. This lupin is more readily infected by native strains of rhizobia than the others.     

Comparison of closely related,uncultivated Coxiella tick endosymbiont population genomes reveals clues about the mechanisms of symbiosis

Understanding the symbiotic interaction between Coxiella‐like endosymbionts (CLE) and their tick hosts is challenging due to lack of isolates and difficulties in tick functional assays. Here we sequenced the metagenome of a CLE population from wild Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks (CRs) and compared it to the previously published genome of its close relative, CLE of R. turanicus (CRt). The tick hosts are closely related sympatric species, and their two endosymbiont genomes are highly similar with only minor differences in gene content. Both genomes encode numerous pseudogenes, consistent with an ongoing genome reduction process. In silico flux balance metabolic analysis (FBA) revealed the excess production of L‐proline for both genomes, indicating a possible proline transport from Coxiella to the tick. Additionally, both CR genomes encode multiple copies of the proline/betaine transporter, proP gene. Modelling additional Coxiellaceae members including other tick CLE, did not identify proline as an excreted metabolite. Although both CRs and CRt genomes encode intact B vitamin synthesis pathway genes, which are presumed to underlay the mechanism of CLE‐tick symbiosis, the FBA analysis indicated no changes for their products. Therefore, this study provides new testable hypotheses for the symbiosis mechanism and a better understanding of CLE genome evolution and diversity.     

Polymorphism of lectin genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lathyrus</Emphasis> plants

The carbohydrate-binding sequences of the lectin genes from spring vetchling Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh., marsh vetchling L. palustris (L.), and Gmelin’s vetchling L. gmelinii (Fitsch) (Fabaceae) were determined. Computer-aided analysis revealed substantial differences between nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the lectin gene regions examined in each of the three vetchling species tested. In the phylogenetic trees based on sequence similarity of carbohydrate-biding regions of legume lectins, the sequences examined formed a compact cluster with the lectin genes of the plants belonging to the tribe Fabeae. In each plant, L. vernus, L. palustris, and L. gmelinii, three different lectin-encoding genes were detected. Most of the substitutions were identified within the gene sequence responsible for coding the carbohydrate-binding protein regions. This finding may explain different affinity of these lectins to different carbohydrates, and as a consequence, can affect the plant host specificity upon development of symbiosis with rhizobium bacteria.     

纤毛虫与藻类共生关系的研究现状与展望

纤毛虫与藻类的共生关系在水体环境中广泛存在并有着重要的生态功能。文章回顾了国内外纤毛虫与藻类共生研究的发展历程,主要介绍了纤毛虫与藻类共生的生态功能,以及显微观察与分子生物学技术在纤毛虫与藻类共生研究中的应用;阐述了包括草履虫与小球藻共生关系建立的4个过程及其互作机制、红色中缢虫与隐藻的共生关系、宿主与共生体之间的互作等内容;提出了纤毛虫与藻类共生研究中亟待解决的科学问题,包括草履虫食物泡膜(digestive vacuole, DV)与围藻膜(perialgal vacuole, PV)发挥作用的分子机制、红色中缢虫与隐藻共生关系的建立过程、红色中缢虫在共生过程中的功能作用等,并展望未来的研究方向。     

Ecological roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in two wild legume plants

Two wild legume plants,Glycine soja andCassia mimosoides var.nomame, and a cultivated plant, soybean (Glycine max), were employed for a study of triple symbiosis with an inoculum ofScutellispora heterogama harvested from natural soils and an inoculum of their own rhizobial cells. The dry weight, colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, nodule formation and N₂-fixation activity were estimated as the parameters of triple symbiosis. The two wild legume plants showed greater growth with colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizae than with nodulation, whereas the cultivated legume showed more nodulation than colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizae. Moreover,S. heterogama appeared to stimulate the triple symbiosis for the wild legume plants. The results suggested that spores ofS. heterogama are important in disturbed soils in Korea.     

Insect pathogenicity islands in the insect pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus

Abstract. Genomic islands are regions of the bacterial genome responsible for unique aspects of bacterial behaviour, such as host symbiosis and pathogenicity. Where such regions are involved in pathogenesis, they are termed pathogenicity islands (PAIs). Photorhabdus luminescens is an insect pathogen that spends part of its life in symbiosis with a nematode and part of its life as an insect pathogen. Here, several novel PAIs from P. luminescens ssp. akhurstii strain W14 are described that encode factors involved apparently in both nematode symbiosis and insect pathogenicity. The structures of these islands are compared with those found in mammalian pathogens, and the potential cross‐talk between virulence factors used against invertebrates and those used against vertebrates is discussed.