Abstract
The stages in the nodulation process that determined the competitiveness of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii (Rlt) strain 20–15, which proved to be highly competitive for nodulation in Iceland fields tests over several years, is analysed. White clover (Trifolium repens L.) roots were inoculated with inoculum mixtures containing three strains (Rlt 20-15, Rlt 8-9 and Rlt 32-28) in different proportions and cell densities. Competitiveness in root colonization, formation of infection threads and nodule development was assessed for Rlt 20-15 and its weakest competitor, Rlt 32-28. ERIC-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA fingerprinting was used to identify inoculated strains recovered from root surfaces and individual nodules. GFP or DsRed tagged strains were used to determine identity in root hairs and nodules. Both strains colonized the root equally at all inoculum ratios tested. But, Rlt 20-15 initiated significantly more infection threads and formed more nodules than Rlt 32-28. These results show that Rlt 20-15 expresses its nodulation competitiveness during infection, either at infection thread initiation or during successive growth in the infection threads. The data presented support earlier observations that this strain competed well in the field in spite of its inferior ability to survive in the soil.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Norwegian Research Council grant (126312/110), as part of NKJ (Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural Research) project 106- Exploring legume-Rhizobium symbioses for sustainable agriculture. Travel support to Ireland for the statistical analysis was funded by COST 852 short-term scientific missions. We thank Dr. Daniel J. Gage at the University of Connecticut, USA, for kindly providing us with the GFP and DsRed plasmids. Coby Weber is thanked for her technical assistance.
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Duodu, S., Brophy, C., Connolly, J. et al. Competitiveness of a native Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii strain for nodule occupancy is manifested during infection. Plant Soil 318, 117–126 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9822-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9822-y