title: Symbiosis of Astragalus cicer with its microsymbionts: partial nodC gene sequence, host plant specificity, and root nodule structure.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, M. Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wdowiak
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Małek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sajnaga
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lotocka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stepkowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Legocki
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D016946:Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; C060771:NodC protein, Rhizobiales