Light-stimulated 14CO2 uptake and acetylene reduction by bacteriochlorophyll containing stem nodule isolate BTAi 1

Abstract

Bradyrhizobial strain BTAi 1 nodulates both stems and roots of Aeschynomene spp. Previous work has shown that it contains bacteriochlorophyll a and forms photosynthetic reaction centers, and has provided indirect evidence of photosynthesis by bacteroids within stem nodules. Here we report physiological and biochemical characteristics of BTAi 1 ex planta, which also suggest the presence of photosynthetic activity. Light-stimulated uptake of 14CO2 by BTAi 1 was detected at all stages of growth. Inhibitors of photosynthesis, 1,10-orthophenanthroline and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), and the uncoupler NH4Cl, immediately suppressed light-driven 14CO2 uptake and increased O2 uptake. BTAi 1 is strictly aerobic and was unable to grow without organic C even in the light; also, it was unable to grow chemoautotrophically in an atmosphere enriched with H2 and CO2. In micro-aerobic conditions, strain BTAi 1 expressed acetylene reducing activity ex planta in an N-free medium. The highest rates of light-stimulated 14CO2 uptake and acetylene-reducing activity occurred during the exponential and early stationary phases of growth. Acetylene-reducing rates at a low glucose concentration were increased following a light-dark cycle in comparison with continuous dark conditions.