title: Symbiosis specificity in the legume: rhizobial mutualism.
abstract: Legume plants are able to engage in root nodule symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, collectively called rhizobia. This mutualistic association is highly specific, such that each rhizobial species/strain interacts with only a specific group of legumes, and vice versa. Symbiosis specificity can occur at multiple phases of the interaction, ranging from initial bacterial attachment and infection to late nodule development associated with nitrogen fixation. Genetic control of symbiosis specificity is complex, involving fine-tuned signal communication between the symbiotic partners. Here we review our current understanding of the mechanisms used by the host and bacteria to choose their symbiotic partners, with a special focus on the role that the host immunity plays in controlling the specificity of the legume - rhizobial symbiosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. dongw@biochem.umass.edu
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shengming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D057865:Plant Immunity; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000502:physiology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D012230:Rhizobiaceae / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053204:Root Nodules, Plant / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C060773:NodD protein, Bacteria; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial