Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils
Legume–rhizobia symbiosis is the most important plant–microbe interaction in sustainable agriculture due to its ability to provide much needed N in cropping systems. This interaction is mediated by the mutual recognition of signaling molecules from the two partners, namely legumes and rhizobia. In l...
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MDPI AG
2024-05-01
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| Colecção: | Plants |
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| Acesso em linha: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/11/1464 |
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| author | Sanjay K. Jaiswal Felix D. Dakora |
| author_facet | Sanjay K. Jaiswal Felix D. Dakora |
| author_sort | Sanjay K. Jaiswal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Legume–rhizobia symbiosis is the most important plant–microbe interaction in sustainable agriculture due to its ability to provide much needed N in cropping systems. This interaction is mediated by the mutual recognition of signaling molecules from the two partners, namely legumes and rhizobia. In legumes, these molecules are in the form of flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are responsible for the pigmentation of plant organs, such as seeds, flowers, fruits, and even leaves. Seed-coat pigmentation in legumes is a dominant factor influencing gene expression relating to N<sub>2</sub> fixation and may be responsible for the different N<sub>2</sub>-fixing abilities observed among legume genotypes under field conditions in African soils. Common bean, cowpea, Kersting’s groundnut, and Bambara groundnut landraces with black seed-coat color are reported to release higher concentrations of <i>nod</i>-gene-inducing flavonoids and anthocyanins compared with the Red and Cream landraces. Black seed-coat pigmentation is considered a biomarker for enhanced nodulation and N<sub>2</sub> fixation in legumes. Cowpea, Bambara groundnut, and Kersting’s bean with differing seed-coat colors are known to attract different soil rhizobia based on PCR-RFLP analysis of bacterial DNA. Even when seeds of the same legume with diverse seed-coat colors were planted together in one hole, the nodulating bradyrhizobia clustered differently in the PCR-RFLP dendrogram. Kersting’s groundnut, Bambara groundnut, and cowpea with differing seed-coat colors were selectively nodulated by different bradyrhizobial species. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing also found significant selective influences of seed-coat pigmentation on microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of five Kersting’s groundnut landraces. Seed-coat color therefore plays a dominant role in the selection of the bacterial partner in the legume–rhizobia symbiosis. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b7dca3a7dfb64b3d9c00dba78bdf69db2024-06-13T15:10:36ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-05-011311146410.3390/plants13111464Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African SoilsSanjay K. Jaiswal0Felix D. Dakora1Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria 0183, South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria 0183, South AfricaLegume–rhizobia symbiosis is the most important plant–microbe interaction in sustainable agriculture due to its ability to provide much needed N in cropping systems. This interaction is mediated by the mutual recognition of signaling molecules from the two partners, namely legumes and rhizobia. In legumes, these molecules are in the form of flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are responsible for the pigmentation of plant organs, such as seeds, flowers, fruits, and even leaves. Seed-coat pigmentation in legumes is a dominant factor influencing gene expression relating to N<sub>2</sub> fixation and may be responsible for the different N<sub>2</sub>-fixing abilities observed among legume genotypes under field conditions in African soils. Common bean, cowpea, Kersting’s groundnut, and Bambara groundnut landraces with black seed-coat color are reported to release higher concentrations of <i>nod</i>-gene-inducing flavonoids and anthocyanins compared with the Red and Cream landraces. Black seed-coat pigmentation is considered a biomarker for enhanced nodulation and N<sub>2</sub> fixation in legumes. Cowpea, Bambara groundnut, and Kersting’s bean with differing seed-coat colors are known to attract different soil rhizobia based on PCR-RFLP analysis of bacterial DNA. Even when seeds of the same legume with diverse seed-coat colors were planted together in one hole, the nodulating bradyrhizobia clustered differently in the PCR-RFLP dendrogram. Kersting’s groundnut, Bambara groundnut, and cowpea with differing seed-coat colors were selectively nodulated by different bradyrhizobial species. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing also found significant selective influences of seed-coat pigmentation on microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of five Kersting’s groundnut landraces. Seed-coat color therefore plays a dominant role in the selection of the bacterial partner in the legume–rhizobia symbiosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/11/1464flavonoidsanthocyaninpigmentationsoil microbesdisease resistancenodulation and N<sub>2</sub> fixation |
| spellingShingle | Sanjay K. Jaiswal Felix D. Dakora Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils Plants flavonoids anthocyanin pigmentation soil microbes disease resistance nodulation and N<sub>2</sub> fixation |
| title | Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils |
| title_full | Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils |
| title_fullStr | Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils |
| title_short | Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N<sub>2</sub> Fixation in Legume-Root–Microbe Associations in African Soils |
| title_sort | seed coat pigmentation plays a crucial role in partner selection and n sub 2 sub fixation in legume root microbe associations in african soils |
| topic | flavonoids anthocyanin pigmentation soil microbes disease resistance nodulation and N<sub>2</sub> fixation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/11/1464 |
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