Symbiotic growth of indigenous white clover (Trifolium repens) with local Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii

Abstract

1991. Symbiotic growth of indigenous while clover (Trifolium repens) with local Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii. -Physiol. Plant. 83: 381-389.To study a possible adaptation of the symbiosis between white clover {Trifolium repens L.) and Rhizobium tegutninosarum biovar trifolii with regard to light and temperature at northern latitudes, local seed populations of white clover and isolates of R. leguminosarum biovar trifolii from 3 different latitudes in Norway, 58'*48'N, 67°2 O'N and 69° 22'N, were used. The commercial cultivar Undrom was used as a reference plant. The experiments were done at 18 and 9°C under controlled conditions in a phytotron during the natural growing season at 69° 39'N. Growth of the plants was evaluated by number and size of leaves, dry matter production and total N-content. At 18°C the white clover plants were harvested twice while at 9°C there was only one growth period. The results from first harvest at 18°C and total growth at 9°C, showed that white clover populations from northern Norway had a lower growth potential than the population from the south and cv. Undrom. This difference was not apparent in the second growth period at 18°C. Growth of the plants from seeds to first harvest was enhanced by mineral nitrogen compared to plants dependent on Rhizobium only. However, after a second growth period dry weight and total nitrogen content of the plants with nitrogen fixation were comparable to the plants receiving mineral nitrogen. Statistical analysis .showed that the most important factor for the variation in dry matter production was the plant population. Within the populations at 9°C and at first han-est at 18°C, there were no significant differences in dry matter production with different Rhizobium inoculum. In the second growth period at 18°C, different inoculum gave significantly different amount of dry matter within a population. The results showed a significant interaction between plant population and Rhizobium inoculum, and the results indicated that plants from the north gave higher yield when nodulated by Rhizobium from the north than from the south. Key words -Nitrogen fixation, Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifoiii, temperature, Trifolium repens, white clover. M. M. Svenning {corresponding author) et al.,J from the atmosphere, and are of economic and environtnental value in agriculture. White clover (rrtfolf'um In symbiotic associations between organisms, the devel-repens L.), which forms symbiosis with Rhizobium leguopment and fttnction of the symbiosis depends 6a the minosarum biovar trifolii, is an important species for genotype of the individual partners as well as the inter-pasture production, and is one of the most winter hardy actions between them. These factors may vary legumes in agrictjltural use. Mytton (1976) showed that indepcnderitly with environmental conditions. Bacteria for white clover any apparent interaction between host from the family Rhizobiacea form nodules on roots of and nitrogen source was a function of the host genoleguminous plants. Th...

Sanctions, Cooperation, and the Stability of Plant-Rhizosphere Mutualisms

“…In such experiments, host plants tend to grow best when inoculated with their own soils, indicating local coadaptation (Parker et al 2006). In a study of clover populations in Norway, plants from the north gave higher yields when nodulated by rhizobia from the north than from the south (Svenning et al 1991). In a similar study, substituting a native for a normative rhizobial strain resulted in a 39%…”

Prevailing Negative Soil Biota Effect and No Evidence for Local Adaptation in a Widespread Eurasian Grass

“…Evidence for local adaptation to soil biota was found in the case of Trifolium repens and Rhizobium bacteria [20], Amphicarpaea bracteata and Bradyrhizobium bacteria [21], Allium vineale and Uniola paniculata to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [22], [23]. Contrasting results have been reported for Acacia species and Rhizobium bacteria [24], Pinus and Rhizopogon fungi [25], Ammophila arenaria and nematodes [26].…”

Effect of nitrogen supply on frost resistance, nitrogen metabolism and carbohydrate content in white clover (Trifolium repens)

“…Northern Norway ( 67°20'N lat. ), were surface sterilized and germinated under aseptic conditions as descrihed by Svenning et al (1991). Seedlings were transplanted to Leonard jars (600 ml) filled with equal amounts of vermiculite, perlite and sand and watered with Jensen's N-free mineral solution (Gibson 1980), supplied with 0.125 mM NH4NO3.…”