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Symbiosis of Astragalus cicer with its microsymbionts: partial nodC gene sequence, host plant specificity, and root nodule structure

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Abstract

Astragalus cicer (cicer milkvetch) nodule bacteria were investigated for host plant specificity and partial nodC gene sequences, whilst their native host was studied for the microscopic structure of root nodules. The strains under investigation formed nodules not only on the original host but also on Astragalus glycyphyllos, Astragalus sinicus, Lotus corniculatus, and Phaseolus vulgaris. The nodules induced on the cicer milkvetch were classified as indeterminate and characterized by apical, persistent meristem, a large bacteroid region with infected and uninfected cells, and elongated bacteroids singly located inside peribacteroid membranes. By comparison of the partial nodC gene sequences of a representative strain of astragali rhizobia to those contained in the GenBank database, a close symbiotic relationship of A. cicer microsymbionts to Rhizobium sp. (Oxytropis) was found.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, M. Curie-Skłodowska University, 19 Akademicka St., 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Sylwia Wdowiak & Ewa Sajnaga

  2. Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, M. Curie-Skłodowska University, 19 Akademicka St., 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Wanda Małek

  3. Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Warsaw Agricultural University, 26/30 Rakowiecka St., 02-528, Warsaw

    Barbara Łotocka

  4. Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12/14 Noskowskiego St., 61-704, Poznań, Poland

    Tomasz Stepkowski & Andrscj Legocki

Authors
  1. Sylwia Wdowiak
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  2. Wanda Małek
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  3. Ewa Sajnaga
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  4. Barbara Łotocka
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  5. Tomasz Stepkowski
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  6. Andrscj Legocki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wanda Małek.

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Wdowiak, S., Małek, W., Sajnaga, E. et al. Symbiosis of Astragalus cicer with its microsymbionts: partial nodC gene sequence, host plant specificity, and root nodule structure. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 78, 63–71 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002738609114

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002738609114

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