Sinorhizobium

The phylogenetic relationship among twelve Agrobacterium, four Rhizobium, and two Sinorhizobium strains originating from various host plants and geographical regions was studied by analysis of the 23S rDNA sequences. The study included Agrobacterium strains belonging to biovars 1, 2 (with tumor- or hairy-root inducing and non-pathogenic strains), A. vitis, A. rubi; representative species of the Rhizobium genus: R. galegae, R. leguminosarum and R. tropici and Sinorhizobium meliloti strains. The phylogenetic analysis showed that within Agrobacterium, the biovar designation was reflected in the 23S rDNA similarity and that strains of Agrobacterium and Rhizobium are closely related to each other. The results suggest that the taxonomic definition of Agrobacterium and Rhizobium should be considered for revision and that the Agrobacterium-biovar identity is probably a reliable taxonomic trait.

Forty-two bacterial isolates from root nodules of Argyrolobium uniflorum growing in the arid areas of Tunisia were characterized by phenotypic features, RFLP, and sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. The isolates were found to be phenotypically diverse. The majority of the isolates tolerated 3% NaCl and grew at temperatures up to 40 °C. Phylogenetically, the new isolates were grouped in the genera Sinorhizobium (27), Rhizobium (13), and Agrobacterium (2). Except for the 2 Agrobacterium isolates, all strains induced nodulation on Argyrolobium uniflorum, but the number of nodules and nitrogen fixation efficiency varied among them. Sinorhizobium sp. strains STM 4034, STM 4036, and STM 4039, forming the most effective symbiosis, are potential candidates for inoculants in revegetalisation programs.

Eighty-seven rhizobial strains isolated from root nodules of field standing native and exotic woody legumes in southern Ethiopia were characterized using the Biolog method and AFLP fingerprinting technique. Cluster analysis of the metabolic and genomic fingerprints revealed 18 and 25 groups, respectively, demonstrating considerable diversity in rhizobial population indigenous to Ethiopian soils. While 25 strains (29%) were linked to members of Agrobacterium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium or Sinorhizobium, the bulk of the strains formed several distinct groups in both methods and did not relate to reference species included in the study. In contrast to exotic species which formed symbiosis with strains of only one specific genomic group, indigenous host species nodulated by metabolically and genomically diverse groups. The results in this study support the view, that long-term association between the symbionts allows gradual differentiation and diversity in compatible rhizobial population resident in native soils. Lack of significant metabolic and genomic relatedness to the reference strains in our results suggested that test strains in our collection probably included ‘unique’ types, which belong to several yet undefined rhizobial species.

SDS-PAGE of total bacterial proteins was applied to the classification of 25 Sudanese and five Kenyan strains isolated from the root nodules of Acacia senegal and Prosopis chilensis. Twenty strains were also studied by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and the whole 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from two strains representing the two major clusters. These results, together with the previously reported numerical taxonomy analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis studies, DNA-DNA dot-blot hybridization, genomic fingerprinting using repetitive sequence-based PCR, DNA base composition analysis, DNA-DNA reassociation analysis, partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and RFLP analysis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene, showed that all 30 strains belong to the genus Sinorhizobium. Two of the strains grouped with Sinorhizobium saheli and seven with Sinorhizobium terangae, while the rest did not cluster with any of the established species. The majority of the strains formed two phenotypica...

Rhizobial bacteria are commonly found in soil but also establish symbiotic relationships with legumes, inhabiting the root nodules, where they fix nitrogen. Endophytic rhizobia have also been reported in the roots and stems of legumes and other plants. We isolated several rhizobial strains from the nodules of noninoculated bean plants and looked for their provenance in the interiors of the seeds. Nine isolates were obtained, covering most known bean symbiont species, which belong to the Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium groups. The strains showed several large plasmids, except for a Sinorhizobium americanum isolate. Two strains, one Rhizobium phaseoli and one S. americanum strain, were thoroughly characterized. Optimal symbiotic performance was observed for both of these strains. The S. americanum strain showed biotin prototrophy when subcultured, as well as high pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, both of which are key factors in maintaining optimal growth. The R. phaseoli strain was ...

ActS–ActR proteins belong to a highly conserved family of two-component signal transduction systems involved in global regulation in the α-proteobacteria; they were first identified in Sinorhizobium medicae (previously Sinorhizobium meliloti) as essential for acid-tolerance. This paper reports on the identification of genes regulated by ActS and/or ActR in S. medicae. To do this, random gusA fusions were created in S. medicae to follow gene transcription in an actS chromosomal knockout mutant containing plasmid-borne actS. Plasmid borne actS was cured from the mutants and β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity compared between the different genetic backgrounds. We detected actS-dependent regulation of the genes gst1 (detoxification), hyuA (hydantoin utilization) and fixN2 (microaerobic respiration). We show that ActR is involved in regulating cbbS (CO2 fixation), narB (nitrate assimilation) and required for low pH and microaerobic induction of the nitrogen fixation regulators fixK and nifA. In particular, we demonstrate that the transcriptional activation of fixN2 is regulated by ActR through FixK.

The bacterium Sinorhizobium morelense S-30.7.5 was isolated by a microbial screening using the sugar 1,5-anhydro- d -fructose (AF) as the sole carbon source. This strain metabolized AF by a novel pathway involving its reduction to 1,5-anhydro- d -mannitol (AM) and the further conversion of AM to d -mannose by C-1 oxygenation. Growth studies showed that the AF metabolizing capability is not confined to S. morelense S-30.7.5 but is a more common feature among the Rhizobiaceae . The AF reducing enzyme was purified and characterized as a new NADPH-dependent monomeric reductase (AFR, EC 1.1.1.-) of 35.1 kDa. It catalyzed the stereoselective reduction of AF to AM and also the conversion of a number of 2-keto aldoses (osones) to the corresponding manno-configurated aldoses. In contrast, common aldoses and ketoses, as well as nonsugar aldehydes and ketones, were not reduced. A database search using the N-terminal AFR sequence retrieved a putative 35-kDa oxidoreductase encoded by the open re...

Prosopis cineraria significantly contribute to sand dune stabilization, soil fertility rejuvenation and is an integral component of agro-forestry systems in arid regions of India. Effect of different rhizobacterial seed treatments on seed germination and seedling traits in two genotypes of P. cineraria (HPY-1) and (FG-1) were tested. Observations on seed germination (%) and seedling traits viz., root length (cm), shoot length (cm), seedling weight (g) and seedling length of different treatments were recorded. Whereas, germination index (GI), seedling vigour index (SVI) and root/shoot length ratio were derived from the observed data. The scarification treatment with sulphuric acid for 10 minutes substantially enhanced germination from < 20% to 80-82% in control treatments. Treatments with co-inoculations of Bacillus licheniformis and Sinorhizobium kostiense or S. saheli supported the maximum seed germination and seedling growth and vigour. The maximum germination per cent (92.5%),...