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Genetic Diversity of a Natural Population of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Nodulating Plants of Vicia faba in the Vesuvian Area

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Abstract

A total of 98 rhizobial strains, isolated during the winter of the years 2003 (35 isolates), 2004 (33 isolates), and 2005 (30 isolates) were analyzed to determine the genetic diversity of the natural population nodulating Vicia faba plants and to identify dominant genotypes. All isolates were identified as Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae by biovar-specific polymerase chain reaction amplification of the nodC gene. Intraspecific DNA polymorphism was evaluated through the restriction endonucleases analysis combined with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Four genotypes characterized 53% of the isolates, showing a high occurrence; moreover, they were recovered over the 3 years, thus showing a lasting persistence in the soil, which could mean a high degree of saprophytic competitiveness. The richness, diversity, and dominance indexes of genotypes were calculated to monitor the evolution of the rhizobial population during the 3 years. The genetic diversity of the analyzed strains decreased along the 3 years. In fact, the biodiversity index H′ decreased from 2.6 in the first and second year to 1.9 in the third year; probably, as a result of bean monocropping, specific genotypes of Rh. leguminosarum bv. viciae were naturally selected.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a grant from the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali (MIPAF, Rome) within the Programme “Genetic resources of organisms useful for the improvement of agricultural species and to a sustainable agriculture.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienza degli Alimenti, Sezione di Microbiologia Agraria, Alimentare ed Ambientale e di Igiene, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy

    Valeria Ventorino, Mario Chiurazzi, Maria Aponte & Olimpia Pepe

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Entomologiche, Fitopatologiche, Microbiologiche e Zootecniche, Sezione di Microbiologia, Università degli studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 98128, Palermo, Italy

    Giancarlo Moschetti

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  1. Valeria Ventorino
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  2. Mario Chiurazzi
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  3. Maria Aponte
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  4. Olimpia Pepe
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  5. Giancarlo Moschetti
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Correspondence to Giancarlo Moschetti.

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Ventorino, V., Chiurazzi, M., Aponte, M. et al. Genetic Diversity of a Natural Population of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Nodulating Plants of Vicia faba in the Vesuvian Area. Curr Microbiol 55, 512–517 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-9024-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-9024-5

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