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Physiological studies on N2-fixing root nodules ofDatisca cannabina L. andAlnus nitida Endl. from Himalaya region in Pakistan

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Summary

The nodulation and the morphology and physiology of the nodules were studied onDatisca cannabina, a perennial herb from northern Pakistan andAlnus nitida, a nodulated tree in the same locality. Both species bear coralloid clusters of actinorhizal nodules. The main free amino acid inD. cannabina nodules was arginine while the predominant free amino acid inA. nitida nodules was citrulline. The infectivity of crushed nodules of both types of plants on their respective host was about 106 infective particles per gram of nodule fresh wt. In cross-inoculation experiments crushed nodule inoculum fromA. nitida failed to induce nodulation onD. cannabina seedlings but the crushed nodule inoculum fromD. cannabina caused low nodulation on seedlings ofA. nitida (103 infective particles. g. nodule fresh wt.).

The activity of nitrogenase, hydrogenase and respiration (O2 uptake) were measured in detached nodules, nodule homogenates and the 20 μm residue and 20 μm filtrate preparations from the nodules of both species. Both species showed similar patterns of activities except that only the nodule homogenate and 20 μm residue preparations fromD. cannabina showed pronounced enhancement of the O2 uptake by succinate which was further stimulated by ADP. This has in part been explained by the presence of mitochondria in close connection with the endophyte.

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Author notes

  1. Antoon D. L. Akkermans

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Fauzia Hafeez, Ashraf H. Chaudhary & Antoon D. L. Akkermans

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  1. Fauzia Hafeez
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  2. Ashraf H. Chaudhary
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  3. Antoon D. L. Akkermans
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Hafeez, F., Chaudhary, A.H. & Akkermans, A.D.L. Physiological studies on N2-fixing root nodules ofDatisca cannabina L. andAlnus nitida Endl. from Himalaya region in Pakistan. Plant Soil 78, 129–146 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02277845

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