Abstract
This paper describes molecular aspects of Azospirillum-plant root association with respect to nitrogen flux and carbon utilization. In the first part, biochemical and genetic data are reported on the transport of ammonium and methylammonium in A. brasilense cells. Ammonium excreting A. brasilense mutants reported so far appear to result from alterations in genes encoding for enzymes involved in ammonium assimilation. Solid genetic evidence is given on the occurrence of a postulated ammonium transporter in A. brasilense. In the second part, biochemical and genetic evidence is likewise given for the occurrence of a high-affinity uptake system for D-galactose in A. brasilense. A sugar- binding protein that is part of this uptake system is required for chemotaxis of A. brasilense towards particular sugars, including D-galactose.
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Van Dommelen, A., Van Bastelaere, E., Keijers, V. et al. Genetics of Azospirillum brasilense with respect to ammonium transport, sugar uptake, and chemotaxis. Plant and Soil 194, 155–160 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004250305689
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004250305689