Ultrastructural specialization for ureide production in uninfected cells of soybean root nodules

Abstract

Ultrastructural studies were conducted on root nodules of soybean (Glycine max) inoculated as seeds withRhizobium japonicum. The development of the large peroxisomes and abundant tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) characteristic of the uninfected interstitial cells was followed during nodule growth and maturation. Quantitative data on differences between the uninfected and infected cells in volumes and numbers of peroxisomes, plastids and mitochondria were analyzed statistically. The peroxisomes are 60 times greater in volume per unit cytoplasm in the uninfected cells than the small presumptive peroxisomes in the infected cells. Plastids are about equal in volume in the two types of cells. Mitochondria have 4 × the volume and 3 × the number of profiles per unit cytoplasm in the infected cells than in the uninfected. The observations are discussed in relation to published evidence that several enzymes involved in ureide production are localized in organelles of the uninfected cells. The uninfected cells are viewed as essential components in the symbiotic relationship between host and bacterium.