The flavonoid naringenin enhances intercellular colonization of rice roots by Azorhizobium caulinodans

Abstract

The intercellular colonization of rice roots by Azorhizobium caulinodans and other diazotrophic bacteria has been studied using strains marked with the lacZ reporter gene. A. caulinodans were able to enter the roots of rice at emerging lateral roots (lateral root cracks) by crack entry and this was observed by light microscopy. After colonization of lateral roots, bacteria moved into intercellular space within the cortical cell layer of roots. Naringenin at 1×10-5 and 5×10-5 M concentration significantly enhanced root colonization. The role of nodABC and regulatory nodD genes was also studied; lateral root crack (LRC) colonization of rice was shown to be Nod factor and NodD independent. Lateral root crack colonization of rice was also observed with similar frequency following inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and the colonization by A. brasilense was stimulated by naringenin and other flavonoid molecules.