Four Rhizobium strains were isolated from berseem clover in Egypt. The symbiotically effective, salt-tolerant, strain Rhiz950 was identified as new species, Rhizobium aegypticaum sv. trifolii (USDA 7124(T)). The other three thermal- and pH-tolerant strains were identified as Rhizobium bangladeshense sv. trifolii, the type strain is USDA 7125(T).

Transfer of an IncP plasmid carrying the Rhizobium meliloti nodFE, nodG, and nodH genes to Rhizobium trifolii enabled R. trifolii to nodulate alfalfa (Medicago sativa), the normal host of R. meliloti. Using transposon Tn5-linked mutations and in vitro-constructed deletions of the R. meliloti nodFE, nodG, and nodH genes, we showed that R. meliloti nodH was required for R. trifolii to elicit both...

Either NO(3) (-) (16 millimolar) or NH(4) (+) (1 millimolar) completely inhibited infection and nodulation of white clover seedlings (Trifoliin repens) inoculated with Rhizobium trifolii. The binding of R. trifolii to root hairs and the immunologically detectable levels of the plant lectin, trifoliin, on the root hair surface had parallel declining slopes as the concentration of either NO(3) (-...

A reduction in the viability of cowpea rhizobia was observed when Rhizobium trifolii IARI and cowpea Rhizobium strain 3824 were inoculated together in soil. The reduction in number of cowpea rhizobia in soil was found to be associated with the reduction in number of nodules per plant and retardation in plant growth. An antimicrobial substance was isolated from R. trifolii which, on electron mic...

Mixed cultures of several Azospirillum and Rhizobium trifolii strains caused either an inhibition or stimulation of nodule formation on plant hosts as compared with nodulation of plants inoculated with R. trifolii alone. Azospirillum strains affected the nodulation process at a precise cell ratio (R. trifolii/Azospirillum cells) and time of inoculation. All Azospirillum strains used showed a va...

To differentiate among the roles of the three nodD genes of Rhizobium meliloti 1021, we studied the activation of a nodC-lacZ fusion by each of the three nodD genes in response to root exudates from several R. meliloti host plants and in response to the flavone luteolin. We found (i) that the nodD1 and nodD2 products (NodD1 and NodD2) responded differently to root exudates from a variety of hos...

A total o f 28 strains o f several species o f Rhizobium were screened for the presence and regulation of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. In contrast to all other species o f Rhizobium, the activity of this enzyme was absent in R. trifolii. D ifferent levels o f alkaline phosphatase were observed in various species o f Rhizobium. Both, species as well as strain specific differences were found ...

Lipopolysaccharide somatic antigens isolated from two strains of Rhizobium trifolii showed the same electrophoretic mobility relative to each other as did the whole bacteria of these strains.

Quantitative microscope techniques were utilized to examine the adsorption of rhizobial cells to clover root hairs. Adsorption of cells of noninfective strains of Rhizobium trifolii or infective R. meliloti strains to clover root hairs was four to five times less than that of the infective R. trifolii strains. Attachment of the rod-shaped bacteria to clover root cells occurred in a polar, end-o...

In this study dairy sludge was evaluated as an alternative cultivation medium for Rhizobium. Growth of bacterial strains at different concentrations of Dairy sludge was monitored. Maximum growth of all strains was observed at 60% Dairy sludge concentration. At 60% optical density (OD) values are 0.804 for Rhizobium trifolii (MTCC905), 0.825 for Rhizobium trifolii (MTCC906), and 0.793 for Rhizob...