Early development of Rhizobium-induced root nodules of Parasponia rigida. II. Nodule morphogenesis and symbiotic development

Abstract

The Rhizobium-induced root nodules of Parasponia rigida (Ulmaceae) outwardly resemble those formed on actinorhizal plants, being coralloid in shape and consisting of multiple, branched lobes. The details of nodule morphogenesis also resemble more closely those which occur in an actinorhizal association than a typical Rhizobium–legume association and include prenodule formation, initiation of modified lateral roots which are termed nodule lobe primordia, and rhizobial colonization of tissues derived from the nodule lobe primordia to form the primary nodule lobes. Mature nodule lobe structure is actinorhizallike. Each lobe has an apical meristem and a central vascular cylinder which is surrounded by an uninfected inner cortex and then a zone of infected tissue. Peripheral to the infected tissue is an uninfected outer cortex. Infection threads and intercellular rhizobia progress continuously toward the apical meristem but do not infect the meristem itself. The establishment of the symbiosis in the host cells involves continuous thread formation after the initial infection until the host cells are nearly filled with rhizobia enclosed in threads. The rhizobia remain in threads throughout the symbiotic relationship and are not released from the threads as occurs in bacteroid formation in legumes.