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Nitrogen Fixation Associated with Sand Grain Root Sheaths (Rhizosheaths) of Certain Xeric Grasses
Author(s) -
WULLSTEIN L. H.,
BRUENING M. L.,
BOLLEN W. B.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1979.tb03176.x
Subject(s) - nitrogen fixation , deserts and xeric shrublands , biology , nitrogenase , botany , stipa , nitrogen , agronomy , chemistry , bacteria , ecology , genetics , organic chemistry , habitat
Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) was found to be associated with sand grain root sheaths (rhizoseaths) occurring on the following xeric grasses: Oryzopsis hymenoides (Roem. and Shult.) Ricker, Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scrib., Stipa comata Trin. and Rupr., and Aristida purpurea Nutt. Acetylene reduction rates associated with whole plant specimens of these species varied from 515 to 920 nmol C 2 H 4 /(g dry wt.) × (6 days). Nitrogenase activity was shown to be associated with the rhizosheaths. Bacillus polymyxa ‐like nitrogen fixers were isolated from the rhizosheaths of each grass. The isolates reduced acetylene and assimilated 15 N 2 .