Gibberellins and the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis

Abstract

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. strain 127E14 displayed a period of marked internode elongation that was not observed in plants inoculated with other compatible bradyrhizobia, including strain 127E15. When strain 127E14 nodulated an alternate host, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), a similar, although less dramatic growth response induced by the bacteria was observed. It has been speculated that the elongative growth promotion brought about by inoculation with strain 127E14 is mediated by gibberellins (GAs). Using deuterated internal standards and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis, we have quantified the levels of GA(1), GA(20), GA(19), and GA(44) in nodules and stems of two varieties of lima bean (bush and pole) and one variety of cowpea that were inoculated with either strain 127E14 or 127E15. In nodules formed by strain 127E14 on lima bean, endogenous levels of GA(20) and GA(19) were 10 to 40 times higher (35-88 ng/g dry weight) than amounts found in nodules formed by strain 127E15 (2.2-3.9 ng/g dry weight). Relative amounts of GA(44) were also higher (4- to 11-fold) in 127E14 nodules, but this increase was less pronounced. The rhizobial-induced increase of these GAs in the nodule occurred in both pole and bush varieties and seemed to be independent of host morphology. Regardless of rhizobial inoculum, levels of the "bioactive" GA(1) in the nodule (0.3-1.1 ng/g dry weight) were similar. In cowpea nodules, a similar, although smaller, difference in GA content due to rhizobial strain was observed. The concentration of GA(1) in lima bean stems was generally higher than that observed in the nodule, whereas concentrations of the other GAs measured were lower. In contrast with the nodule, GA concentrations in lima bean stems were not greater in plants inoculated with strain 127E14, and in some cases the slower growing plants inoculated with strain 127E15 actually had higher levels of GA(20), GA(19), and GA(44). Thus, there were major differences in concentrations of the precursors to GA(1) in nodules formed by the two bacterial strains, which were positively correlated with the observed elongation growth. These results support the hypothesis that the rhizobial strain modifies the endogenous GA status of the symbiotic system. This alteration in GA balance within the plant, presumably, underlies the observed growth response.