QUICK SEROLOGICAL METHOD OF CLASSIFYING STRAINS OF RHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM IN NODULES

Abstract

MIEANS, IRA M. (U.S. Departimieiit of Agiiculture, Beltsville, Md.), HERBERT W. JOHNSON, AND R. A. DATE. Quick serological method of classifving strains of Rhizobiwni japonicmnot in nodules. J.

Fluorescent-Antibody Approach to Study of Rhizobia in Soil

“…FA detection as those used in these experiments. The feature of antigenic heterogeneity has been well documented for the rhizobia in general and especially for strains of R. japonicum, since numerous strains will react only with a homologous antiserum (3,5,8,10). Most reports indicate that somatic antigens, as used in the present study, provide more specific antisera than do flagellar antigens.…”

The Rapid Serological Identification of Rhizobia in Small Nodules

“…As with Rhizobiurn japonicurn (Means, Johnson & Date, 1964) cross agglutination reactions also occur between strains of R. trifolii. However these can sometimes be eliminated, and can usually be minimized, by diluting the antisera.…”

Identification of Legume Nodule Bacteroids by the Fluorescent Antibody Reaction

“…The FA technique of staining bacteroid material from squas ned nodules provides a suitable quick method of nodule identification which can be used for studies on fieldgrown nodules in large numbers. The chief limitation of the method of Means, Johnson & Date (1964) is lack of sufficient antigenic material for testing in small nodules. A number of FA staining tests can be applied to the material obtained from a single clover nodule.…”

“…However, the methods currently available for identifying strains of Rhizobium serologically are either too time consuming or unsuitable for use with small young nodules. Details of such methods have been given by Means, Johnson & Date (1964), Dudman (1964) and Dudman & Brockwell (1968).…”