Open AccessThe dynamics of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii introduced into soil as determined by immunofluorescence and selective plating techniques
Author(s) -
Postma J.,
Elsas J.D.,
Govaert J.M.,
Veen J.A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb02671.x-i1
Subject(s) - rhizobium leguminosarum , rhizobium , biovar , immunofluorescence , biology , plating (geology) , microbiology and biotechnology , rhizobiaceae , chemistry , bacteria , symbiosis , genetics , paleontology , antibody
After the introduction of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii into a loamy sand and a silt loam, high recovery percentages were determined using quantitative immunofluorescence. Soil type, but not inoculum density between 10 4 and 10 8 cells per gram of soil, significantly influenced the recovery percentage of the immunofluorescence technique. Recovery percentages determined using selective plating were independent of either soil type or inoculum density and exceeded those determined by immunofluorescence. The serological and genetic markers used for detection were stable during 55 days of incubation in phosphate‐buffered saline and soil extract solution. After the introduction of R. leguminosarum biovar trifolii into both sterilized soil types, the population increased to 0.5–1×10 9 cells per gram of soil, but a decline was demonstrated in non‐sterile loamy sand and silt loam during incubation of 90 days at 15°C. Starvation of rhizobial cells in the phosphate‐buffered saline and soil extract solution, as well as incubation in both soil types, resulted in a significant decrease in mean cell size.