Phenotypic, molecular and symbiotic characterization of the rhizobial symbionts of Desmanthus paspalaceus (Lindm.) Burkart that grow in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 25;9(8):e104636. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104636. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Desmanthus paspalaceus (Lindm.) Burkart belongs to the D. virgatus complex, subfamily Mimosoidae. The known potential as livestock fodder of several of these legumes prompted us to undertake a phenotypic, molecular, and symbiotic characterization of the D. paspalaceus symbionts in the Santa Fe province, Argentina. The rhizobia collected--containing isolates with different abiotic-stress tolerances--showed a remarkable genetic diversity by PCR fingerprinting, with 11 different amplification profiles present among 20 isolates. In selected isolates 16S-rDNA sequencing detected mesorhizobia (60%) and rhizobia (40%) within the collection, in contrast to the genus of the original inoculant strain CB3126--previously isolated from Leucaena leucocephala--that we typified here through its 16S rDNA as Sinorhizobium terangae. The results revealed the establishment by diverse bacterial genera--rhizobia, sinorhizobia, and mesorhizobia--of full N2-fixing symbiotic associations with D. paspalaceus. This diversity was paralleled by the presence of at least two different nodC allelic variants. The identical nodC alleles of the Mesorhizobia sp. 10.L.4.2 and 10.L.5.3 notably failed to group within any of the currently described rhizo-/brady-/azorhizobial nodC clades. Interestingly, the nodC from S. terangae CB3126 clustered close to homologs from common bean nodulating rhizobia, but not with the nodC from S. terangae WSM1721 that nodulates Acacia. No previous data were available on nod-gene phylogeny for Desmanthus symbionts. A field assay indicated that inoculation of D. paspalaceus with the local Rhizobium sp. 10L.11.4 produced higher aerial-plant dry weights compared to S. teranga CB3126-inoculated plants. Neither the mesorhizobia 10.L.4.2 or 10.L.5.3 nor the rhizobium 10L.11.4 induced root nodules in L. leucocephala or P. vulgaris. The results show that some of the local isolates have remarkable tolerances to several abiotic stresses including acidity, salt, and temperature; while exhibiting prominent N2 fixation; thus indicating suitability as candidates for inoculation of D. paspalaceus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Argentina
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Fabaceae / growth & development
  • Fabaceae / microbiology*
  • Fabaceae / physiology
  • Genetic Variation
  • Phylogeny
  • Rhizobium / genetics*
  • Rhizobium / metabolism
  • Rhizobium / physiology
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Symbiosis / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Ribosomal

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Research Council (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas—CONICET, Argentina), and the Ministry of Science Technology and Productive Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnolología e Innovación Productiva—MinCyT, Argentina: grants PICT 2008-0736 and PICT 2012-1719 to AL). LVF and MAT were supported with a full-time position as Laboratory Instructors at the Facultad de Agronomía-Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Argentina. JLL and FA were supported by fellowships from the Agencia de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT-MinCyT, Argentina) and CONICET, respectively. MFDP, JFP, and AL are Researchers at CONICET. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.