Nod factor-treated Medicago truncatula roots and seeds show an increased number of nodules when inoculated with a limiting population of Sinorhizobium meliloti

Medicago truncatula is a model legume plant that interacts symbiotically with Sinorhizobium meliloti, the alfalfa symbiont. This process involves a molecular dialogue between the bacterium and the plant. Legume roots exude flavonoids that induce the expression of a set of rhizobial genes, the nod genes, which are essential for nodulation and determination of the host range. In turn, nod genes control the synthesis of lipo-chito-oligosaccharides (LCOs), Nod factors, which are bacteria-to-plant signal molecules mediating recognition and nodule organogenesis. M. truncatula roots or seeds have been treated with Nod factors and hydroponically growing seedlings have been inoculated with a limiting population of S. meliloti. It has been shown that submicromolar concentrations of Nod factors increase the number of nodules per plant on M. truncatula. Compared with roots, this increase is more noticeable when seeds are treated. M. truncatula seeds are receptive to submicromolar concentrations of Nod factors, suggesting the possibility of a high affinity LCO perception system in seeds or embryos as well.