Symbiosis specificity in the legume - rhizobial mutualism

R gene-controlled host specificity in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.

Leguminous plants can enter into root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria known as rhizobia. An intriguing but still poorly understood property of the symbiosis is its host specificity, which is controlled at multiple levels involving both rhizobial and host genes. It is widely believed that the host specificity is determined by specific recognition of bacterially derived Nod fa...

Synthesis of Rhizobial Exopolysaccharides and Their Importance for Symbiosis with Legume Plants

Rhizobia dwell and multiply in the soil and represent a unique group of bacteria able to enter into a symbiotic interaction with plants from the Fabaceae family and fix atmospheric nitrogen inside de novo created plant organs, called nodules. One of the key determinants of the successful interaction between these bacteria and plants are exopolysaccharides, which represent species-specific homo-...

Symbiosis and Mutualism

Update on MicroRNAs in the Rhizobia Legume Symbiosis MicroRNAs in the Rhizobia Legume Symbiosis

Legumes are agronomically valuable crops for food and fodder production worldwide because they are rich in protein, oil, fiber, and micronutrients. In addition, legumes require less chemical fertilizer than other major crop plants since they can assimilate some nutrients through symbiotic interactions with soil microbes. These relationships are mutually beneficial for the partners because the p...

Mutualism and Adaptive Divergence: Co-Invasion of a Heterogeneous Grassland by an Exotic Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis

Species interactions play a critical role in biological invasions. For example, exotic plant and microbe mutualists can facilitate each other's spread as they co-invade novel ranges. Environmental context may influence the effect of mutualisms on invasions in heterogeneous environments, however these effects are poorly understood. We examined the mutualism between the legume, Medicago polymorph...