Expression of Bradyrhizobium japonicum wild-type strain USDA110 nirK, norC and nosZ denitrification genes in soybean root nodules was studied by in situ histochemical detection of beta-galactosidase activity. Similarly, P(nirK)-lacZ, P(norC)-lacZ, and P(nosZ)-lacZ fusions were also expressed in bacteroids isolated from root nodules. Levels of beta-galactosidase activity were similar in both bacteroids and nodule sections from plants that were solely N(2)-dependent or grown in the presence of 4 mM KNO(3). These findings suggest that oxygen, and not nitrate, is the main factor controlling expression of denitrification genes in soybean nodules. In plants not amended with nitrate, B. japonicum mutant strains GRK308, GRC131, and GRZ25, that were altered in the structural nirK, norC and nosZ genes, respectively, showed a wild-type phenotype with regard to nodule number and nodule dry weight as well as plant dry weight and nitrogen content. In the presence of 4 mM KNO(3), plants inoculated with either GRK308 or GRC131 showed less nodules, and lower plant dry weight and nitrogen content, relative to those of strains USDA110 and GRZ25. Taken together, the present results revealed that although not essential for nitrogen fixation, mutation of either the structural nirK or norC genes encoding respiratory nitrite reductase and nitric oxide reductase, respectively, confers B. japonicum reduced ability for nodulation in soybean plants grown with nitrate. Furthermore, because nodules formed by each the parental and mutant strains exhibited nitrogenase activity, it is possible that denitrification enzymes play a role in nodule formation rather than in nodule function.