Comparative morphology and flavolan content of Rhizobium loti induced effective and ineffective root nodules on Lotus species, Leuceana leucocephala, Carmichaelia flagelliformis, Ornithopus sativus, and Clianthus puniceus

Abstract

The morphology of Rhizobium loti induced root nodules and the flavolan content of nodulated roots of several Lotus species, Leuceana leucocephala, Carmichaelia flagelliformis, Ornithopus sativus, and Clianthus puniceus were examined. Rhizobium loti strain NZP2037 formed effective (Nod+Fix+) nodules on all legumes, but strain NZP2213 formed Nod+Fix+ nodules only on Lotus corniculatus var. cree and ineffective (Nod+Fix−) nodules on all other legumes. The Nod+Fix− nodules developed by NZP2213 showed morphologies ranging from the complete absence of bacteria within “tumour-like” structures to the development of nodules containing bacteria that were either not released or only incompletely released from infection threads. Within nodules formed by NZP2213 on Lotus corniculatus var. hirsutus and Carmichaelia flagelliformis the rhizobia had multiplied extensively within unwalled, plasma membrane bound, infection droplets. Flavolans rich in prodelphinidin, which is toxic towards NZP2213, were present in the roots of Lotus angustissimus, Lotus pedunculatus, Lotus subbiflorus, and Leuceana leucocephala, but only trace amounts of flavolan were found in the roots of Carmichaelia flagelliformis, Ornithopus sativus, and Clianthus puniceus.