A. M. Abdel Wahab

Root-hair infection and nodulation of four grain legumes as affected by the form and the application time of nitrogen fertilizer

The effects of application of combined nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium nitrate or urea) on root-hair infection and nodulation of four grain legumes were studied. Young roots of each legume were inoculated with their compatible rhizobia. The application of the two forms of combined N either at the early stages of plant growth and/or at the time of nodule formation depressed root-hair curling, infection and nodulation. Infection of hairs on the primary roots was more sensitive to the N fertilizer than hair infection of secondary roots in bothVicia faba andPisum sativum. The nodule number and total fresh mass of the four legumes were drastically affected by fertilizer application. The combined N added both at early and at later stages significantly reduced the nodulation ofV. faba, Phaseolus vulgaris andVigna sinensis. The inhibitory effect of urea on nodulation ofP. sativum was only observed when the fertilizer was applied at the late stages of plant growth. It is concluded that, although the nodulation of the four legumes was suppressed by combined N, the initial events ofRhizobium-legume symbiosis (infection of roots and nodule initiation) are more sensitive to combined N than the stages after nodule formation.

Nitrogen fixation by Bacillus strains isolated from the rhizosphere of Ammophila arenaria

Several Bacillus strains, from the rhizosphere of Ammophila arenaria, appeared on ‘nitrogen-free’ agar plates. They were able to grow in nitrogen-poor medium to which 0.1% yeast extract was added. Three of these bacilli were tested for their ability to fix nitrogen using the acetylene reduction assay. The C2H2-reducing activity was determined at 8-hour intervals during their growth cycle. C2H2 reduction (and accordingly N2 fixation) was greater under anaerobic than aerobic conditions. Additions of 0.1% CaCO3 significantly increased the C2H2-reducing activity under both conditions. Characterisation suggests that these strains are new nitrogen-fixing Bacillus species. re]19740121

The role of potassium fertilizer in nodulation and nitrogen fixation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plants under drought stress

Three-week-old nodulated faba bean plants were subjected to different levels of drought stress (onehalf, one-quarter, or one-eighth field capacity) for 5 weeks. Half the stressed plants were treated with KCl at 10 mg kg-1 soil or 150 mg kg-1 soil at the beginning of the drought stress. Nodulation and nitrogenase activity were significantly decreased by increasing drought stress. Leghaemoglobin and protein contents of nodule cytosol were also severely inhibited by drought sttess. This decline was attributed to the induction of protease activity. However, carbohydrate contents of the nodule cytosol increased significantly. This accumulation was attributed to a sharp decline in invertase activity and low use of sugar by the bacteroids We conclude that harmful effects of water deficits can be alleviated by increasing K+ supplementation.

Effects of salt stress on nitrogenase activity and growth of four legumes

AbstractThe effects of salt stress on nitrogenase (N2-ase) activity, growth and nitrogen content ofVicia faba (L.),Medicago sativa (L.) Merrill,Glycine max andVigna sinensis (L.) were investigated. Four levels of salinity were applied and salt treatments were imposed on inoculated and N-fertilized plants.M. sativa tolerated mild levels of salinity but higher salt concentrations depressed N2-ase activity of this species. The other three legumes were considerably affected by salt treatments, and N2-ase activity was significantly reduced by salinity. Vicia faba, carrying elongate nodules, could restore a partial N2-ase activity upon recovery from salt stress whereasG. max andV. sinesis, both with spherical nodules, could not regain significant activity when salinity was removed.Salt stress retarded growth of both inoculated and N-fertilized plants. The nitrogen content of both treatments was also affected by salinity and the effect was more severe for inoculated than N-fertilized plants.

Response of nitrogen fixation, nodule activities, and growth to potassium supply in water-stressed broad bean

Abstract Three‐week‐old nodulated faba bean plants were subjected to two levels of water stress (0.5 and 0.25 field capacity; soil water content of 20 and 10%) for five weeks. Half of the stressed plants was treated with potassium chloride (KC1) at 10 (K1) and 150 mg (K2)/kg soil at the beginning of water deficit. Nodulation was examined and some nodule activities were assayed. Nodulation, nitrogenase activity, total nitrogen (N), and dry matter yield were significantly decreased by increasing stress but were significantly higher with the two levels of potassium (K) supply. Leghaemoglobin and protein contents of cytosol as well as nodule protease and invertase were severely depressed by drought stress. Soluble carbohydrate contents of nodules, however, was significantly increased. Protein and leghaemoglobin contents and enzyme activities were greater with K fertilization but less soluble carbohydrate was accumulated. The results indicate that K supply, particularly at the 150 mg/kg soil level, increased f...

Nitrogen-fixing bacillus species from Egyptian soils: Acetylene reduction and cultural conditions

SummaryAmong 390 isolates from Egytiian soils initially grown on Browns N-free agar, 15 facultative Bacillus isolates were able to reduce acetylene in Staniers N-poor broth under both aerobic and anaerobic (N2 atmosphere) conditions. Some of these isolates were Gram-positive, with unswollen sporangia and thin-walled endospores. Other strains were with slightly or definitely bulged sporangia. Yeast extract (0.01%) was essential for growth stimulation and N2[C2H2] fixation by these isolates. Replacing yeast extract with 20 μg/ml (NH4)2SO4 or biotin, thiamine and amino acids (singly or in combination) resulted in stimulation of growth and N2[C2H2] fixation, though at lower rates than in yeast extract.One isolate was able to grow and reduce C2H2 in Staniers N-free liquid medium. Nitrogenase [C2H2] activity of the anaerobically grown and incubated cultures was greater than aerobic cultures. Addition of 0.1% CaCO3 to the culture media significantly increased and O2 partially inhibited, N2[C2H2] fixation by these Bacillus isolates.Studies of the characteristics and N2[C2H2] fixing activities of these isolates indicate that at least some of them are new nitrogen-fixingBacillus species.

Survival ofRhizobium leguminosarum biovarviceae subjected to heat, drought and salinity in soil

Two strains (RCR 1001 and 1044) and a commercial inoculant (Okadin) ofRhizobium leguminosarum biovarviceae were tested for their ability to survive in autoclaved clay soil for up to four months under heat, salinity and drought stress. Resistance to heat was tested by incubating rhizobia in soil at 27, 37 and 42 °C. Tolerance of rhizobia to salinity was investigated by growing rhizobia in soil salinized with 1 and 2 % NaCl (m/m). Drought resistance was tested by subjecting bacteria to soil moisture contents of 20, 10 and 5%. Strain RCR 1001 was more resistant to heat and nodulated faba bean better than other tested strains. A commercial inoculant Okadin survived more (plate count method) and nodulated faba bean (plant infectivity, most probable number, MPN) at moisture content of 5% and 2% NaCl. Although, strains RCR 1001 and 1044 resisted these stress conditions (plate count) they lost their abilities to nodulate faba bean (MPN-test). There is a possibility for selection of effective rhizobia which are more tolerant to harsh conditions.

Stimulation of nodulation, nitrogen fixation and plant growth of faba bean by cobalt and copper additions

The effect of different concentrations of cobalt or copper on nodulation nitrogenase activity and growth of faba bean was studied in pot experiments. Cobalt at 100 ppm increased nodule number and weight by 63.4 and 81.3%, respectively. Cobalt at this level induced 114.8% increases in absolute N2-ase activity. Copper promoted nodule mass by 44.7% and absolute N2-ase by 61.6%. Leghaemoglobin content, dry matter and total nitrogen content of shoots and roots were also significantly increased. Higher levels up to 200 ppm of both cobalt and copper had no deleterious effects on Rhizobium-Vicia faba symbiosis.

Effect of form and level of applied nitrogen on nitrogenase and nitrate reductase activities in faba beans

The effects of nitrogen applied at increasing levels of 0, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mM N (KNO3 or NH4Cl) were studied in faba bean (Vicia faba) nodulated byRhizobium leguminosarum bv.viceae RCR lool. Nitrogenase activity was higher at 4 and 8 mM N than the zero N treatment (control), but 16 and 32 mM N significantly reduced the efficiency of nodule functions. Nitrate reductase activities (NRA) of leaves, stems, roots, nodules and nodule fractions (bacteroid and cytosol) were increased with rising the NO3− or NH4+ levels. NRA decreased in the order of nodules>leaves>stems>roots. Cytosolic NR was markedly higher than that recorded in the bacteroid fractions. Nitrate levels were linearly correlated to NRA of nodules. Accumulation of NO2− within nodules suggests that NO2− inhibits nodule’s activity after feeding plants with NO3− or NH4+.