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Growth responses of introduced Frankia strains to edaphic factors

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Abstract

Aims

A considerable amount of information is available on root nodule formation of the nitrogen fixing actinomycete Frankia and its host plants; however, studies on Frankia populations in soil, its second ecological niche, are generally hampered by the complexity of soil systems and the lack of adequate quantification methods for frankiae. The aim of this study was, using recently developed quantitative PCR methods, to follow population dynamics of introduced Frankia strains in soil microcosms under different edaphic conditions.

Methods

Populations dynamics of four Frankia strains (ArI3, Ag45/Mut15, CcI3 and EAN1pec) representing frankiae of the Alnus host infection group (i.e. subgroups I and II infective on Alnus species, Casuarina-infective frankiae) and frankiae of the Elaeagnus host infection group, respectively, were analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a factorial design of microcosms with two plant species (A. glutinosa, C. equisetifolia), two potential carbon resources (rhizosphere, leaf litter), and two matric potentials (wet, dry).

Results

Introduction of frankiae into soil resulted in about 10-fold declines in abundance within the first 6 weeks of incubation in both bulk and rhizosphere soils, independently of plant species, leaf litter amendment and matric potential. While this decline continued in bulk soil during an additional 6 week period, numbers in the rhizosphere recovered and increased to values close to- or exceeding those of introduced frankiae. Independently of plant species, carbon resource or matric potential, cell numbers of strain EAN1pec recovered to inoculum values in nearly all treatment combinations, while those of strain ArI3 remained low. Strain Ag45/Mut15 recovered most prominently in the rhizosphere in leaf-litter-amended microcosms, regardless of plant species and matric potential, while cell numbers of Casuarina-infective Frankia strain CcI3 recovered only in the presence of C. equisetifolia, with higher numbers in the presence of leaf litter and under dry conditions.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate differential effects of environmental conditions including plant species, carbon resources, and matric potentials on the fate of specific Frankia strains in soil, and identifies factors potentially affecting subpopulations of indigenous frankiae under natural conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the Office of Sponsored Programs (Research Enhancement Program Grant No. 9000000647), the Graduate College (Doctoral Research Support Fellowship to S. Samant), and the Department of Biology at Texas State University for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA

    Suvidha Samant & Dittmar Hahn

  2. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1201 South Dorner Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Jeffrey O. Dawson

Authors
  1. Suvidha Samant
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  2. Jeffrey O. Dawson
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  3. Dittmar Hahn
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Correspondence to Dittmar Hahn.

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Responsible Editor: Katharina Pawlowski.

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Samant, S., Dawson, J.O. & Hahn, D. Growth responses of introduced Frankia strains to edaphic factors. Plant Soil 400, 123–132 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2720-1

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