Sym plasmid of Rhizobium trifolii expressed in different rhizobial species and Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Bacteria of the genus Rhizobium fix nitrogen in symbiotic association with legumes such as clover, pea and bean. If the efficiency of this plant–bacterium relationship is to be improved or the host range of the rhizobia extended, the genes involved in the symbiosis must first be identified and local...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1981-01, Vol.291 (5813), p.351-353
Main Authors: Hooykaas, P.J.J, Brussel, A.A.N. van, Dulk-Ras, H. den, Slogteren, G.M.S. van, Schilperoort, R.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Humanities and Social Sciences
letter
multidisciplinary
nitrogen fixation
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:Bacteria of the genus Rhizobium fix nitrogen in symbiotic association with legumes such as clover, pea and bean. If the efficiency of this plant–bacterium relationship is to be improved or the host range of the rhizobia extended, the genes involved in the symbiosis must first be identified and localized. Accumulating genetic and biochemical data support the proposal that genes on a large plasmid 1 are involved in root nodulation, in analogy with the Ti genes of Agrobacterium tumefaciens , which is closely related to the fast-growing species of Rhizobium 2,4 (for reviews, see refs 5, 6). Although most of the data concern Rhizobium leguminosarum 7–11 , some deal with Rhizobium trifolii 12–14 , which associates with clover. We report here that one particular plasmid in R. trifolii —which we call Sym(biosis) plasmid—not only determines host specificity, but also controls several, if not most, other steps leading to root nodule formation and nitrogen fixation on clover roots.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/291351a0