The role of nodules in the tolerance of common bean to iron deficiency

Iron is vital for the establishment and function of symbiotic root nodules of legumes. Although abundant in the environment, Fe is often a limiting nutrient for plant growth due to its low solubility and availability in some soils. We have studied the mechanism of iron uptake in the root nodules of common bean to evaluate the role of nodules in physiological responses to iron deficiency. Based on experiments using full or partial submergence of nodulated roots in the nutrient solution, our results show that the nodules were affected only slightly under iron deficiency, especially when the nodules were submerged in nutrient solution in the tolerant cultivar. In addition, fully submerged root nodules showed enhanced acidification of the nutrient solution and showed higher ferric chelate reductase activity than that of partially submerged roots in plants cultivated under Fe deficiency. The main results obtained in this work suggest that in addition to preferential Fe allocation from the root system to the nodules, this symbiotic organ probably develops some mechanisms to respond to iron deficiency. These mechanisms were implied especially in nodule Fe absorption efficiency and in the ability of this organ to take up Fe directly from the medium.