Open AccessComparative analysis of the genetic structure of a Rhizobium meliloti field population before and after environmental release of the highly competitive R. meliloti strain GR4
Author(s) -
Villadas Pablo J.,
Burgos Pedro,
Jording Doris,
Selbitschka Werner,
Pühler Alfred,
Toro Nicolás
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.1996.tb00331.x
Subject(s) - biology , rhizobium , population , sinorhizobium meliloti , intergenic region , strain (injury) , typing , genetics , dna profiling , plasmid , gene , dna , genome , mutant , anatomy , demography , sociology
Rhizobium meliloti strain GR4, which exhibits a highly competitive ability for alfalfa root nodule occupancy, was used in a field release experiment in Granada, Spain. In order to analyze the ecological impact of the GR4 release, we characterized the R. meliloti indigenous population of the field site by ERIC‐(enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) PCR and IS (insertion sequence) fingerprinting. Both fingerprinting methods resulted in the same grouping of the isolates. Data obtained were compared with a previous analysis by plasmid based sequence‐specific PCR. Isolates belonging to the major infective group, as defined by dominant plasmid types, were shown to have identical or nearly identical ERIC and IS fingerprint patterns. Hence, we conclude that all three typing methods are suited to characterize the genetic structure of the field population. The possible impact of the introduction of strain GR4 was examined two years after its release in its original environment. No effect on the genetic structure of the indigenous R. meliloti field population was observed.