Premium
An alternative nitrogenase is not expressed in molybdenum‐deficient legume root nodules
Author(s) -
DILWORTH M. J.,
LONERAGAN J. F.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb00981.x
Subject(s) - nitrogenase , molybdenum , legume , root nodule , rhizobium , rhizobia , vanadium , biology , nitrogen fixation , medicago , symbiosis , rhizobium leguminosarum , trifolium subterraneum , chemistry , botany , bacteria , rhizobiaceae , horticulture , agronomy , inoculation , biochemistry , inorganic chemistry , gene , pasture , genetics
summary Three legume root nodule bacteria systems ( Medicago polymorpha L. ‐Rhizobium meliloti, Ornithopus sativus Brot. ‐Bradyrhizobium lupini and Trifolium subterraneum L.‐ Rhizobium leguminosarum by. trifolii ) were grown in solution culture under conditions likely to lead to the production of alternative nitrogenases (molybdenum‐deficient, or molybdenum‐deficient but supplemented with vanadium). Addition of 1 μM molybdenum produced significant responses in both nodule and top weights while 2 μM vanadium did not. Ethane, which is produced as well as ethylene when acetylene is reduced by vanadium nitrogenase or nitrogenase‐3 from Azotobacter , was not found in significant amounts during assays of acetylene reduction in either molybdenum‐deficient or molybdenum‐deficient, vanadium‐supplemented treatments, suggesting that no non‐molybdenum nitrogenase was produced by these root nodule bacteria.