Biodiversity of Root-Nodule Bacteria Associated With the Leguminous Plant Biserrula pelecinus

• Main Author: Vicente, Claudia
• Publication Date: 2009
• Other Authors: Pérez-Fernández, Maria A, Pereira, Graça, Tavares-de-Sousa, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/29022; https://doi.org/10.1097/SS.0b013e3181b655a2
• topic: Mesorhizobium; biodiversity; pasture; Biserrula pelecinus

Biserrula pelecinus is a noteworthy forage legume known for its drought- and acid-resistant properties and nitrogen-fixing ability that forms an extremely specific symbiotic relationship with bacteria from genera Mesorhizobium. To investigate the biodiversity of root- nodule bacteria associated with B. pelecinus, a total of 88 bacterial strains were examined using repYpolymerase chain reaction amplifica- tion. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was also used to determine the phylogenetic relationship with type strains of different genera of rhi- zobia. Our results show that although a considerable genetic variability among Biserrula isolates was found, most isolates were phylogenetically related to Mesorhizobium ciceri. Curiously, a new symbiotic partner was found to nodulate Biserrula, suggesting possible lateral gene transfer of nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes between Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium.