How do less-expensive nitrogen alternatives affect legume sanctions on rhizobia?
Ryoko Oono1, Katherine E Muller2,3, Randy Ho1
1Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California Santa Barbara CA USA.
Ecology and Evolution
|October 19, 2020
Summary
Plant hosts can penalize underperforming nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but this "sanctioning" ability is weakened by available nitrogen. This impacts the stability of crucial plant-microbe partnerships.
Area of Science:
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Symbiotic relationships
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Mutualistic interactions require partner regulation (sanctioning) to ensure fairness.
- Sanctions must detect minor differences in partner contributions to prevent exploitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if legume hosts sanction mediocre nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains.
- Determine if sanctions are affected by alternative nitrogen sources or co-inoculation.
Main Methods:
- Assessed legume host sanctions on rhizobial strains.
- Manipulated nitrogen availability (nitrate) and rhizobial competition (co-inoculation).
- Measured nodule growth and rhizobial carbon accumulation (PHB).
Main Results:
- Nitrate availability reduced nodule size differences, compromising host sanctions.
- Nitrate decreased PHB accumulation in mediocre strains, potentially negating resource diversion benefits.
- Co-inoculation effects on sanctions depend on balancing nodule size reduction against PHB gains.
Conclusions:
- Host sanctioning effectiveness is contingent on nitrogen availability.
- The relative importance of rhizobial fitness components influences sanction outcomes.
- Plant-microbe symbiosis stability is complex and context-dependent.
More Related Videos
05:37Author Spotlight: Enhancing Rhizobacteria Colonization on Plant Roots for Improved Microbial Fertilizer Efficiency
Published on: March 1, 2024
1.3K
10:58Plant Promoter Analysis: Identification and Characterization of Root Nodule Specific Promoter in the Common Bean
Published on: December 23, 2017
12.9K
Related Concept Videos
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
46.1K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
46.1K
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
323
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
323
01:20Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
10.6K
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
10.6K
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
23.6K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
23.6K
01:49The Nitrogen Cycle
58.9K
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
58.9K
01:40Overview of Metabolism
36.7K
Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
36.7K