Equilibrium between the "genuine mutualists" and "symbiotic cheaters" in the bacterial population co-evolving with plants in a facultative symbiosis

Theor Popul Biol. 2008 Dec;74(4):345-55. doi: 10.1016/j.tpb.2008.09.005. Epub 2008 Oct 2.

Abstract

The mathematical model for evolution of the plant-microbe facultative mutualistic interactions based on the partners' symbiotic feedbacks is constructed. Using the example of rhizobia-legume symbiosis, we addressed these feedbacks in terms of the metabolic (C<-->N) exchange resulting in the parallel improvements of the partners' fitness (positive feedbacks). These improvements are correlated to the symbiotic efficiency dependent on the ratio of N(2)-fixing bacterial strains ("genuine mutualists") to the non- N(2)-fixing strains ("symbiotic cheaters") in the root nodules. The computer experiments demonstrated that an interplay between the frequency-dependent selection (FDS) and the Darwinian (frequency-independent) selection pressures implemented in the partners' populations ensures an anchoring or even domination for the newly generated host-specific mutualists (which form N(2)-fixing nodules only with one of two available plant genotypes) more successfully than for the non-host-specific mutualists (which form N(2)-fixing nodules with both plant genotypes). The created model allows us to consider the mutualistic symbiosis as a finely balanced polymorphic system wherein the equilibrium in bacterial population may be shifted in favor of "genuine mutualists" due to the partner-stipulated selection for an improved symbiotic efficiency implemented in the plant population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Genotype
  • Nitrogen Fixation
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / microbiology*
  • Rhizobium / physiology*
  • Symbiosis*