Flavonoid-like compounds from seeds of red alder (Alnus rubra) influence host nodulation by Frankia (Actinomycetales)

Nitrogen-fixing root nodules are formed by Frankia spp. (Actinomycetales) on dicotyledonous hosts such as alders ( Alnus spp.). Flavonoid-containing preparations from seed washes of red alder ( Alnus rubra Bong.), and individual compounds isolated from such preparations, influenced nodulation of A. rubra by Frankia. Nodulation was enhanced by one flavonoid-like compound, and apparently inhibited by two other such compounds. Four flavonoid-like compounds had no significant effect on nodulation. The seven individual compounds purified from the seed washes were characterized spectrally as possible flavanones and isoflavones. Both the enhancer and the inhibitors appeared to be possible flavanones.     

Lipid composition and nitrogenase activity of symbioticFrankia (Alnus incana) in response to different oxygen concentrations

Summary The role ofFrankia vesicle envelope lipids in regulating oxygen diffusion of symbiotic nitrogen fixation inAlnus incana was examined. Total lipids of symbioticFrankia (vesicle clusters) that had been adapted to oxygen tensions of 5,21, or 40 kPa were analyzed with a normal phase HPLC system. During the oxygen treatment, nitrogenase activity was measured as hydrogen evolution in an open flow-through system. When plants were transferred to low oxygen (5 kPa) or high oxygen (40 kPa), nitrogenase activity dropped initially. Activity recovered in both treatments with a rate comparable to the controls (21 kPa O₂). Both lipid content and lipid composition of vesicle clusters were affected by the oxygen treatments. With increasing oxygen tension, the vesicle cluster lipid content increased. This correlated with structural data (fluorescence microscopy and TEM) which showed a thicker vesicle envelope at higher oxygen tension. Three hopanoid lipids, bacteriohopanetetrol (bht) and two isomers of phenylacetyl monoester of bht, made up approximately 80% of the vesicle cluster lipids. With changing oxygen concentrations, the ratio of the two bht esters changed whereas the relative proportion of bht remained fairly constant. Therefore, in theFrankia-Alnus incana symbiosis, adaptation to different ambient oxygen tensions occurs at least partly by increasing the thickness of theFrankia vesicle envelope and by changing its lipid composition.Abbreviations dw dry weight - bht bacteriohopanetetrol - SE standard error - TEM transmission electron microscopy Dedicated to the memory of Professor John G. Torrey     

Ecological studies on the timberline of Mt. Fuji

To compare the nutrient economy of woody plants at timberline of Mt. Fuji, seasonal changes in nitrogen content in leaves were examined. There was remarkable difference in seasonal changes in leaf nitrogen content betweenAlnus maximowiczii and other deciduous trees at same habitat.A. maximowiczii scarcely withdrew the leaf nitrogen to woody part during the shedding period, while the other species withdrew about half of the leaf nitrogen to woody part.     

Nodulation potential of soils from red alder stands covering a wide age range

Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) stands in the Pacific Northwest are the common first stage in succession following disturbance. These stands are highly productive and contribute a large amount of N to the soils as a result of their N₂-fixing symbiosis with Frankia. As these alder stands age, the soils not only increase in total N, but concentrations of NO^– ₃ increase and pH decreases as a result of nitrification. The objective of this study was to determine how the nodulation capacity of Frankia varies as red alder stands age and if differences in nodulation capacity are related to changes in soil properties. Nodulation capacity was determined by a red alder seedling bioassay for soils from red alder stands in the Oregon coast range covering a wide range of ages. Six chronosequences were sampled, each containing a young, an intermediate, and an older alder stand. Soil total N, total C, NO^– ₃, NH⁺ ₄, and pH were measured on the same soil samples. These factors as well as alder stand characteristics were compared with nodulation capacity in an attempt to identify soil characteristics typical in developing alder stands that most strongly affect nodulation capacity. Soil pH and NO^– ₃ concentration were highly correlated with nodulation capacity and with each other. Cluster analysis of the sites using these two variables identified two groups with distinctly different nodulation capacities. The cluster with the higher nodulation capacity was lower in NO^– ₃ and higher in pH than the other cluster, which included the majority of sites. There was substantial overlap in the age ranges for the two clusters and there was no significant correlation between age and nodulation capacity. Thus nodulation capacity appears to be most closely related to soil properties than to stand age.     

Studies on the localization of infectible cells onAlnus glutinosa roots

Summary Four Frankia isolates ofAlnus glutinosa were studied in relation to the location of infectible cells along 10 day oldAlnus glutinosa roots. For all isolates tested a clear zonation in infectible cells was found just above the position of the root tip at the time of infection.Differences in the length of the root nodule induction zone were observed, depending on the isolate and possibly also depending on the age of the Frankia culture tested. A second infection zone was found which was the only infectible zone by an isolate with a retarded infective potential (LDAgp1). Root hair deformation is clearly correlated with the presence of Frankia near axenic alder plants, although actual contact of root hairs and the symbiont is not prerequisite. Some evidence is presented indicating that the type of deformation might be correlated with the Frankia strain.