Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis
Leguminous plants possess the almost unique ability to enter symbiosis with soil-resident, nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia. During this symbiosis, the bacteria physically colonize specialized organs on the roots of the host plant called nodules, where they reduce atmospheric nitrogen into f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.585749/full |
| _version_ | 1831673374996168704 |
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| author | Liam Walker Beatriz Lagunas Miriam L. Gifford Miriam L. Gifford |
| author_facet | Liam Walker Beatriz Lagunas Miriam L. Gifford Miriam L. Gifford |
| author_sort | Liam Walker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leguminous plants possess the almost unique ability to enter symbiosis with soil-resident, nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia. During this symbiosis, the bacteria physically colonize specialized organs on the roots of the host plant called nodules, where they reduce atmospheric nitrogen into forms that can be assimilated by the host plant and receive photosynthates in return. In order for nodule development to occur, there is extensive chemical cross-talk between both parties during the formative stages of the symbiosis. The vast majority of the legume family are capable of forming root nodules and typically rhizobia are only able to fix nitrogen within the context of this symbiotic association. However, many legume species only enter productive symbiosis with a few, or even single rhizobial species or strains, and vice-versa. Permitting symbiosis with only rhizobial strains that will be able to fix nitrogen with high efficiency is a crucial strategy for the host plant to prevent cheating by rhizobia. This selectivity is enforced at all stages of the symbiosis, with partner choice beginning during the initial communication between the plant and rhizobia. However, it can also be influenced even once nitrogen-fixing nodules have developed on the root. This review sets out current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms employed by both parties to influence host range during legume-rhizobia symbiosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:25:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29c4aaa500104b2c91800e76509423af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:25:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-29c4aaa500104b2c91800e76509423af2022-12-21T19:55:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2020-11-011110.3389/fmicb.2020.585749585749Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia SymbiosisLiam Walker0Beatriz Lagunas1Miriam L. Gifford2Miriam L. Gifford3School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United KingdomSchool of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United KingdomSchool of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United KingdomWarwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, United KingdomLeguminous plants possess the almost unique ability to enter symbiosis with soil-resident, nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia. During this symbiosis, the bacteria physically colonize specialized organs on the roots of the host plant called nodules, where they reduce atmospheric nitrogen into forms that can be assimilated by the host plant and receive photosynthates in return. In order for nodule development to occur, there is extensive chemical cross-talk between both parties during the formative stages of the symbiosis. The vast majority of the legume family are capable of forming root nodules and typically rhizobia are only able to fix nitrogen within the context of this symbiotic association. However, many legume species only enter productive symbiosis with a few, or even single rhizobial species or strains, and vice-versa. Permitting symbiosis with only rhizobial strains that will be able to fix nitrogen with high efficiency is a crucial strategy for the host plant to prevent cheating by rhizobia. This selectivity is enforced at all stages of the symbiosis, with partner choice beginning during the initial communication between the plant and rhizobia. However, it can also be influenced even once nitrogen-fixing nodules have developed on the root. This review sets out current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms employed by both parties to influence host range during legume-rhizobia symbiosis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.585749/fullspecificityrhizobialegumehost rangesymbiosisnodulation |
| spellingShingle | Liam Walker Beatriz Lagunas Miriam L. Gifford Miriam L. Gifford Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis Frontiers in Microbiology specificity rhizobia legume host range symbiosis nodulation |
| title | Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis |
| title_full | Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis |
| title_fullStr | Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis |
| title_short | Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis |
| title_sort | determinants of host range specificity in legume rhizobia symbiosis |
| topic | specificity rhizobia legume host range symbiosis nodulation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.585749/full |
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