Stem Nodulation in Legumes: Diversity,Mechanisms, and Unusual Characteristics |
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Authors: | Catherine Boivin Ibrahima Ndoye Flore Molouba Philippe de Lajudie Nicolas Dupuy Bernard Dreyfus |
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Institution: | 1. Laboratoire de Microbiologie , ORSTOM, B.P. 1386, Dakar , Sénégal;2. Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Département de Biologie Végétale , Dakar , Sénégal |
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Abstract: | Rhizobia can establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with plants of the Leguminosae family. They elicit on their host plant the formation of new organs, called nodules, which develop on the roots. A few aquatic legumes, however, can form nodules on their stem at dormant root primordia. The stem-nodulating legumes described so far are all members of the genera Aeschynomene, Sesbania, Neptunia, and Discolobium. Their rhizobial symbionts belong to four genera already described: Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, and Azorhizobium. This review summarizes our current knowledge on most aspects of stem nodulation in legumes, the infection process and nodule development, the characterization and unusual features of the associated bacteria, and the molecular genetics of nodulation. Potential use as green manure in lowland rice of these stem-nodulating legumes, giving them agronomical importance, is also discussed. |
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Keywords: | stem-nodulated legumes Sesbania Aeschynomene Azorhizobium photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium nitrogen fixation |
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