Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice

Abstract In legume-Rhizobium symbioses, specialised soil bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in return for carbon. However, ineffective strains can arise, making discrimination essential. Discrimination can occur via partner choice, where legumes prevent ineffective strains from entering, or via sanct...

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Autores principales:	Annet Westhoek, Elsa Field, Finn Rehling, Geraldine Mulley, Isabel Webb, Philip S. Poole, Lindsay A. Turnbull
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2017
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/2806e3b5ba654a5999389e7c461f8c4f
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:2806e3b5ba654a5999389e7c461f8c4f2021-12-02T15:06:25ZPolicing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice10.1038/s41598-017-01634-22045-2322https://doaj.org/article/2806e3b5ba654a5999389e7c461f8c4f2017-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01634-2https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract In legume-Rhizobium symbioses, specialised soil bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in return for carbon. However, ineffective strains can arise, making discrimination essential. Discrimination can occur via partner choice, where legumes prevent ineffective strains from entering, or via sanctioning, where plants provide fewer resources. Several studies have inferred that legumes exercise partner choice, but the rhizobia compared were not otherwise isogenic. To test when and how plants discriminate ineffective strains we developed sets of fixing and non-fixing strains that differed only in the expression of nifH – essential for nitrogen fixation – and could be visualised using marker genes. We show that the plant is unable to select against the non-fixing strain at the point of entry, but that non-fixing nodules are sanctioned. We also used the technique to characterise mixed nodules (containing both a fixing and a non-fixing strain), whose frequency could be predicted using a simple diffusion model. We discuss that sanctioning is likely to evolve in preference to partner choice in any symbiosis where partner quality cannot be adequately assessed until goods or services are actively exchanged.Annet WesthoekElsa FieldFinn RehlingGeraldine MulleyIsabel WebbPhilip S. PooleLindsay A. TurnbullNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2017)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Annet Westhoek Elsa Field Finn Rehling Geraldine Mulley Isabel Webb Philip S. Poole Lindsay A. Turnbull Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
description	Abstract In legume-Rhizobium symbioses, specialised soil bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in return for carbon. However, ineffective strains can arise, making discrimination essential. Discrimination can occur via partner choice, where legumes prevent ineffective strains from entering, or via sanctioning, where plants provide fewer resources. Several studies have inferred that legumes exercise partner choice, but the rhizobia compared were not otherwise isogenic. To test when and how plants discriminate ineffective strains we developed sets of fixing and non-fixing strains that differed only in the expression of nifH – essential for nitrogen fixation – and could be visualised using marker genes. We show that the plant is unable to select against the non-fixing strain at the point of entry, but that non-fixing nodules are sanctioned. We also used the technique to characterise mixed nodules (containing both a fixing and a non-fixing strain), whose frequency could be predicted using a simple diffusion model. We discuss that sanctioning is likely to evolve in preference to partner choice in any symbiosis where partner quality cannot be adequately assessed until goods or services are actively exchanged.
format	article
author	Annet Westhoek Elsa Field Finn Rehling Geraldine Mulley Isabel Webb Philip S. Poole Lindsay A. Turnbull
author_facet	Annet Westhoek Elsa Field Finn Rehling Geraldine Mulley Isabel Webb Philip S. Poole Lindsay A. Turnbull
author_sort	Annet Westhoek
title	Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
title_short	Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
title_full	Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
title_fullStr	Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
title_full_unstemmed	Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
title_sort	policing the legume-rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2017
url	https://doaj.org/article/2806e3b5ba654a5999389e7c461f8c4f
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Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice

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