Abstract
The effects of sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the interaction between Rhizobium leguminosarum strain 29d and root hairs of field bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Maris Bead) plants were investigated. Two levels each of NaCl (50 and 100 mol·m−3) and PEG (100 and 200 mol·m−3) were given at the time of root-hair formation. Scanning electron microscopy showed rhizobial attachment and colonization on root-hair tips. Adhesion of rhizobia in both lateral and polar orientation, sometimes associated with microfibrils, occurred mainly in crooks at the root-hair tips; most of the infections also occurred here. Bacterial colonization and root-hair curling were both reduced by stress treatments. Polyethylene glycol but not NaCl significantly reduced root-hair diameter. The proportion of root hairs containing infection threads was reduced by 30% under NaCl and by 52% under PEG. The structure of some of the root hairs, epidermal and hypodermal cells, as seen by light microscopy in ultrasections, was distorted as a result of NaCl and PEG treatments; cells showed plasmolysis and folded membranes. After three weeks of treatment, both NaCl and PEG inhibited nodule number by about 50% and nodule weight by more than 60%. It is concluded that the root-hair infection process in Vicia faba is impaired by NaCl and PEG treatments and this in turn results in fewer nodules being produced.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- PEG:
-
polyethylene glycol
References
Bhuvaneswari, T.V., Bhagwat, A.A., Bauer, W.D. (1981) Transient susceptibility of root hair cell in four common legumes to nodulation by rhizobia. Plant Physiol. 68 1144–1149
Bhuvaneswari, T.V., Solheim, B. (1985) Root hair deformation in the white clover/Rhizobium symbiosis. Physiol. Plant. 63, 25–34
Bigot, J., Le Saos, J., Binet, P. (1983) Effects de NaCl sur la composition cationique de quelques fractions subcellulaires des racines de Haricot et de Cochlearia anglica. Physiol. Vég. 21, 3–13
Calvert, H.E., Pence, M.K., Pierce, M., Malik, N.S.A., Bauer, W.D. (1984) Anatomical analysis of the development and distribution of Rhizobium infections in soybean roots. Can. J. Bot. 62, 2375–2384
Clamporova, M. (1981) Ultrastructure of maire root cells under salt stress conditions. In: Structure and function of plant roots, pp. 319–322, Brouwer, R., Gasparikova, O., Kolek, J., Loughmans, B.C., eds. Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk, The Hague Boston London
Cormack, R.G.H. (1949) The development of root hairs in angiosperms. Bot. Rev. 15, 583–612
Dart, P.J. (1977) Infection and development of leguminous nodules. In: A treatise on dinitrogen fixation, pp. 367–472, Hardy, R.W.F., Silver, W.S., eds. Wiley, New York
Dazzo, F.B., Truchet, G.L., Sherwood, J.E., Hrabak, E.M., Abe, M., Pankartz, S.H. (1984) Specific phases of root hair attachment in the Rhizobium trifolli-clover symbiosis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 48, 1140–1150
Ekdahl, I. (1953) Studies on the growth and osmotic conditions of root hairs. Symb. Bot. Ups. 11, 5–83
Ekdahl, I. (1957) The growth of root hairs and roots in nutrient media and in bidistilled water and the effects of oxylate. Ann. R. Agric. Coll. Sweden 23, 497–518
Ervin, S.E., Hubbell, D.H. (1985) Root hair deformations associated with fractionated extracts from Rhizobium trifolli. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 49, 61–68
Gerard, C.J. (1971) Influence of osmotic potential, temperature and calcium on growth of plant roots. Agron. J. 63, 555–558
Gerard, C.J., Hinojosa, E. (1973) Cell wall properties of cotton roots as influenced by calcium and salinity. Agron. J. 65, 556–560
Gillett, R., Longhurst, P. (1982) Immunocytochemical demonstration of lymphocyte subpopulations in oral tissues by light- and electron-microscopy through LR White resin. J. Dent. Res. 61, Abstr. 133, 550
Lakshmi-Kumari, M., Singh, C.S., Subba-Rao, N.S. (1974) Root hair infection and nodulation in lucerne (Medicago sativa) as influenced by salinity and alkalinity. Plant Soil 40, 261–268
Lawlor, D.W. (1970) Absorption of polyethylene glycols by plants and their effects on plant growth. New Phytol. 69, 501–513
Rowse, H.R., Goodman, D. (1981) Axial resistance to water movement in broad bean (Vicia faba) roots. J. Exp. Bot. 32, 591–598
Sánchez-Diáz, M., Aparicio-Tejo, P., Gonzalez-Mura, C., Pena, J.I. (1982) The effect of NaCl salinity and water stress with polyethylene glycol on nitrogen fixation, stomatal response and transpiration of Medicago sativa. Trifolium repens and Trifolium brachycalycinum (subclover). Physiol. Plant. 54, 361–366
Schroter, K., Sievers, A. (1971) Effect of turgor reduction on the Golgi apparatus and the cell wall formation in root hairs. Protoplasma 72, 203–211
Sethi, R.S., Reporter, M. (1981) Calcium localization pattern in clover hair cells associated with infection process: studies with auromycin. Protoplasma 105, 321–325
Singleton, P.W. (1983) A split-root growth system for evaluating the effect of salinity on the components of the soybean Rhizobium japonicum symbiosis. Crop Sci. 23, 259–262
Singleton, P.W., Bohlool, B. (1984) Effect of salinity on nodule formation by soybean. Plant Physiol. 74, 72–76
Sprent, J.I. (1980) Root nodule anatomy, type of export product and evolutionary origin in some Leguminosae. Plant Cell Environ. 3, 35–43
Sprent, J.I. (1984) Effects of drought and salinity on heterotrophic nitrogen-fixing bacteria and infection of legumes by rhizobia. In: Advances in nitrogen fixation research, pp. 295–302, Veeger, C., Newton, W.E., eds. Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk, The Hague Boston Lancaster
Tu, J.C. (1981) Effect of salinity on Rhizobium-root hair interaction, nodulation and growth of soybean. Can. J. Plant Sci. 61, 231–239
Udovenko, G.V., Mashanskii, V.F., Sinitskoya, I.A. (1970) Changes of root cell ultrastructure under salinization in plants of different salt resistance. Sov. Plant Physiol. 17, 813–818
Vance, C.P. (1983) Rhizobium infection and nodulation: a beneficial plant disease? Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 37, 399–424
Vasse, J.M., Truchet, G.L. (1984) The Rhizobium-legume symbiosis: observation of root infection by bright-field microscopy after staining with methylene blue. Planta 161, 487–489
Williams, P.M., Mallorca, M.S. (1984) Effect of osmotically induced leaf moisture stress on nodulation and nitrogenase activity of Glycine max. Plant Soil, 80, 267–283
Worrall, V.S., Roughley, R.J. (1976) The effect of moisture stress on infection of Trifolium subterraneum L. by Rhizobium trifolii Dang. J. Exp. Bot. 27, 1233–1241
Yousef, A.N. (1982) Effects of salt stress on symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Vicia faba plants. Ph. D. Thesis, Dundee University, UK
Yousef, A.N., Sprent, J.I. (1983) Effects of NaCl on growth, nitrogen incorporation and chemical composition of inoculated and NH4NO3 fertilized Vicia faba L. plants. J. Exp. Bot. 34, 941–950
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zahran, H.H., Sprent, J.I. Effects of sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol on root-hair infection and nodulation of Vicia faba L. plants by Rhizobium leguminosarum . Planta 167, 303–309 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391332
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391332