Abstract
Non-motile mutants of Rhizobium trifolii defective in either flagellar synthesis or function were isolated by transposon Tn5 mutagenesis. they were indistinguishable from motile control strains in growth in both laboratory media and in the rhizosphere of clover roots. When each non-motile mutant was grown together with a motile strain in continuous culture, the numbers of motile and non-motile organisms remained in constant proportion, implying that their growth rates were essentially identical. When inoculated separately onto clover roots, the mutants and wildtype did not differ significantly in the number of nodules produced or in nitrogen fixing activity. However, when mixtures of equal numbers of mutant and wild-type cells were inoculated onto clover roots, the motile strain formed approximately five times more nodules than the flagellate or non-flagellate, non-motile mutants, suggesting that motility is a factor in competition for nodule formation.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ames P, Bergman K (1981) Competitive advantage provided by bacterial motility in the formation of nodules by Rhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol 148:728–729
Ames P, Schleuderberg SA, Bergman K (1980) Behavioural mutants of Rhizobial meliloti. J Bacteriol 141:722–727
Beringer JE (1974) R factor transfer in Rhizobium leguminosarum. J Gen Microbiol 84:188–198
Beringer JT, Beynon JL, Buchanan-Wollaston AV, Johnston AWB (1978) Transfer of the drug-resistance transposon Tn5 to Rhizobium. Nature 276:233–234
Bowra BJ, Dilworth MJ (1981) Motility and chemotaxis towards sugars in Rhizobium leguminosarum. J Gen Microbiol 126:231–235
Broughton WJ, Dilworth MJ (1971) Control of leghaemoglobin in snake beans. Biochem J 125:1075–1080
Brown CM, Dilworth MJ (1975) Ammonia assimilation by Rhizobium cultures and bacteroids. J Gen Microbiol 86:39–48
Buchanan-Wollaston AV (1979) Generalised transduction in Rhizobium leguminosarum. J Gen Microbiol 112:135–142
Burg D, Guillaume T, Tailliez R (1982) Chemotaxis by Rhizobium meliloti. Arch Microbiol 133:162–163
Currier WW (1980) Chemotaxis of a birdsfoot trefoil strain of Rhizobium to simple sugars. FEMS Microbiol Lett 8:43–46
Currier WW, Strobel GA (1976a) Chemotaxis of Rhizobium spp. to plant exudates. Plant Physiol 57:820–823
Currier WW, Strobel GA (1976b) Chemotaxis of Rhizobium spp. to a glycoprotein produced by birdsfoot trefoil roots. Science 196:434–435
Deley J, Rassel A (1965) DNA base composition, flagellation and taxonomy of the genus Rhizobium. J Gen Microbiol 41:85–91
Gaworzewska ET, Carlile MJ (1982) Positive chemotaxis of Rhizobium leguminosarum and other bacteria towards root exudates from legumes and other plants. J Gen Microbiol 128:1179–1188
Gitte RR, Rai PV, Patil RB (1978) Chemotaxis of Rhizobium ssp towards root exudate of Cicer arietinum L. Plant Soil 50:553–566
Hunter WJ, Fahring CJ (1980) Movement by Rhizobium and nodulation of legumes. Soil Biol Biochem 12:537–542
Marshall KC (1964) Survival of root nodule bacteria in dry soils exposed to high temperatures. Aust J Agric Res 15:273–281
Munns DN (1968) Nodulation of Medicago sativa in solution cultures. I. Acid sensitive steps. Plant Soil 28:129–146
Soby S, Begman K (1983) Motility and chemotaxis of Rhizobium meliloti in soil. Appl Env Microbiol 46:995–998
Somasegaran P, Reyes VG, Hoben HJ (1983) The influence of high temperatures on the growth and survival of Rhizobium spp. in peat inoculants during preparation, storage and distribution. Can J Microbiol 30:23–30
Trinick MJ, Dilworth MJ, Grounds M (1976) Factors affecting the reduction of acetylene by root nodules of Lupinus spp. New Phytol 77:359–70
Vincent JM (1970) A manual for the practical study of root nodule bacteria. Blackwell, Oxford
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mellor, H.Y., Glenn, A.R., Arwas, R. et al. Symbiotic and competitive properties of motility mutants of Rhizobium trifolii TA1. Arch. Microbiol. 148, 34–39 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429644
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429644