Wide distribution range of rhizobial symbionts associated with pantropical sea-dispersed legumes.
To understand the geographic distributions of rhizobia that associated with widely distributed wild legumes, 66 nodules obtained from 41 individuals including three sea-dispersed legumes (Vigna marina, Vigna luteola, and Canavalia rosea) distributed across the tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the world were studied. Partial sequences of 16S rRNA and nodC genes extracted from the nodules showed that only Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium were associated with the pantropical legumes, and some of the symbiont strains were widely distributed over the Pacific. Horizontal gene transfer of nodulation genes were observed within the Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium lineages. BLAST searches in GenBank also identified records of these strains from various legumes across the world, including crop species. However, one of the rhizobial strains was not found in GenBank, which implies the strain may have adapted to the littoral environment. Our results suggested that some rhizobia, which associate with the widespread sea-dispersed legume, distribute across a broad geographic range. By establishing symbiotic relationships with widely distributed rhizobia, the pantropical legumes may also be able to extend their range much further than other legume species.
Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi, Inage, Chiba-shi, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan.
Masaru
M
Bamba
Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi, Inage, Chiba-shi, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan.|Jumonji Junior and Senior High School, 1-10-33 Kitaohtsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Sayuri
S
Nakata
Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
Seishiro
S
Aoki
Museum of Natural and Environmental History, Shizuoka, 5762 Oya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 422-8017, Japan.
Koji
K
Takayama
Laboratorio de Genética Ecológica y Evolución, Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México, Distrito Federal, México.
Juan
J
Núñez-Farfán
Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
Motomi
M
Ito
Natural History Museum & Institute, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan.
Masaki
M
Miya
Iriomote Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 870 Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, 907-1541, Japan. kajita@mail.ryudai.jp.
Tadashi
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1232-4179
T
Kajita
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020369:Bradyrhizobium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D058889:Molecular Typing; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012230:Rhizobiaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020579:Sinorhizobium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013559:Symbiosis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; C060771:NodC protein, Rhizobiales
Pantropical plants with sea-drifted seeds; Rhizobia biogeography; Sea dispersal