Summary
Growth of Lotus nodule bacteria (Strain LC 296) was temporarily suppressed in a yeast-extract mineral-salts medium containing 2,4-DB at 50 and 100 µg/ml. However, the 2,4-DB concentration needed to completely suppress the growth of the bacteria appeared to be above 500 µg/ml. When added during the logarithmic phase of growth 2,4-DB at 50 and 100 µg/ml did not inhibit the growth of the cells, so that the growth-inhibiting effect of the herbicide apparently was directed primarily against lag phase cells. Pre-incubation of rhizobia in a medium containing 2,4-DB at concentrations up to 10 µg/ml did not affect the capacity of the bacteria to effectively nodulate their host plant.
Attempts to induce the rhizobia to utilize 2,4-DB as a sole carbon source failed. Nevertheless, when theLotus nodule bacteria (LC 296) were grown in a medium containing 2,4-DB-1-C14, C14O2 was released. Similar results were obtained with other strains of the Lotus rhizobia and other species of Rhizobium. C14O2 evolution was also demonstrated when radioactive 2,4-DB was added to both intact (excised) and crushed trefoil nodules. The results indicate that the nodule bacteria are capable of degrading 2,4-DB; although the mechanism is still obscure it does not appear to be via cleavage of the ether link.
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4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) butyric acid.
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Jordan, D.C., Garcia, M.M. Interactions between 2,4-DB * and the root-nodule bacteria ofLotus corniculatus . Plant Soil 30, 360–372 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01881963
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01881963