Competitive advantage provided by bacterial motility in the formation of nodules by Rhizobium meliloti.
The effect of motility on the competitive success of Rhizobium meliloti in nodule production was investigated. A motile strain formed more nodules than expected when mixed at various unfavorable ratios with either flagellated or nonflagellated nonmotile derivatives. We conclude that motility confers a selective advantage on rhizobia when competing with nonmotile strains.
D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000382:microbiology*; D009068:Movement; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis