Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Isolation and identification of root associated diazotrophs

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 35))

Abstract

Diazotrophs have been isolated from the rhizosphere or roots of plants by many workers. To recognize a certain diazotroph as the most abundant bacterium at a certain site or as the principal agent responsible for N2-fixation is much more difficult. It is probable that many diazotrophs, including possibly the most efficient ones, have not been identified yet. The use of proper selective media which simulate the environment of the various diazotrophs in situ has led to the discovery of 10 new root-associated diazotrophs, three of them during 1986/1987 (Azospirillum halopraeferans, Herbaspirilium seropedicae and the recently proposed Acetobacter diazotrophicus). The importance of using a variety of carbon substrates in the growth media with pH indicators, and the use of N-free semi-solid media, is discussed. Recognition of plant-bacteria interactions requires, in addition to the identification of the bacteria, the demonstration of effects of the plant on the bacteria and of the bacteria on the plant. Confirmation of the identity of diazotrophs responsible for response of plants to inoculation must be made in experiments with strains labelled with antibiotic resistance or other markers. If establishment of the inoculated strain is demonstrated in plants grown in 15N-labelled soil, the 15N enrichment of the plants will reveal if any observed responses in N yield are due to N2-fixation or increased soil/fertilizer-N uptake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Albrecht S L, Okon Y, Lonquist J and Burris R H 1981 Nitrogen fixation by com-Azospirillum associations in a temperate climate. Crop Sci. 21, 302–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldani V L D, Baldani J I and Döbereiner J 1983 Effects of Azospirillum inoculation on root infection and nitrogen incorporation in wheat. Can. J. Microbiol. 29, 924–929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldani J I, Baldani V L D, Seldin L and Döbereiner J 1986a Characterization of Herbaspirillum seropedicae gen. Nov., sp. Nov.: A root-associated nitrogen-fixing bacterium. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 36, 86–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baldani V L D, Alvarez M A B, Baldani J I and Döbereiner J 1986 b Establishment of inocculated Azospirillum spp in the rhizosphere and in roots of field grown wheat and sorghum. Plant and Soil 90, 35–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldani V L D, Baldani J I and Döbereiner J 1987 Inoculation of field-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum) with Azospirillum spp. in Brazil. Biol. Fertil. Soil 4, 37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bally R, Thomas-Bauzon D, Heulin Th, Balandreau J, Richard C and De Ley J 1983 Determination of the most frequent N2 -fixing bacteria in a rice rhizosphere. Can. J. Microbiol. 29, 881–887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barraquio W L, Ladha J K and Watanabe J 1983 Isolation and identification of N2-fixing Pseudomonas associated with wetland rice. Can. J. Microbiol. 29, 867–873.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beijerinck M W 1925 Ãœber ein Spirillum, welches freien Stickstoff binden kann? Centralbl. Bakt. II Abt 63, 353–357.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beringer J E and Johnston A W B 1984 Concepts and terminology in plant-microbe interactions. In Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Genetic Perspectives. VI. Eds. T Kosuge and E W Nester. pp 3–18. Macmillan Publishing, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boddey R M, Baldani V L D, Baldani J I and Döbereiner 1986 Effects of inoculation of Azospirillum spp. on the nitrogen assimilation of field grown wheat. Plant and Soil 95, 109–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biilow J F N von and Döbereiner J 1975 Potential for nitrogen fixation in maize genotypes in Brasil. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 72, 2389–2393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalcante V and Döbereiner J 1988 A new acid-tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with sugar-cane. Plant and Soil 108, 23–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Ley J 1986 DNA base composition and classification of some more free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 34, 66–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Smedt J, Bauwens M, Tijtgat R and De Ley J 1980 Intra- and intergeneric similarities of ribosomal ribonucleic acid cistrons of free-living, nitrogen fixing bacteria. Int. Syst. Bacteriol 30, 106–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Döbereiner J 1961 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Beijerinckia Derx in the rhizosphere of sugar cane. Plant and Soil 15, 211–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Döbereiner J 1966 Azotobacter paspali sp. n., uma bacteria fixadora de nitrogenio na rizosfera de Paspalum. Pesq. agropec. bras. 1, 357–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döbereiner J 1970 Further research on Azotobacter paspali and its variety: Specific occurrence in the rhizosphere of Paspalum notatum Flügge. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. Parasitenkd. Infektionskr. Hyg. Abt II 124, 224–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döbereiner J and Day J M 1976 Associative symbioses in tropical grasses: Characterization of microorganisms and dinitrogen fixing sites. In Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on N2 Fixation. Eds. W E Newton and C J Nyman. pp 518–538. Washington State University Press, Pullman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döbereiner J and Pedrosa F O 1987 Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in Nonleguminous Crop Plants. 155pp. Brock/Springer Series in Contemporary Biosciences. Science Tech Publishers, Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  • Döbereiner J and Ruschel A P 1958 Uma nova especie de Beijerinckia. Rev. Biol. 1, 261–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk E C, Döbereiner J, Johnson J L and Krieg N R 1985 Deoxyribonucleic acid homology of Azospirillum amazonense Magalhães et al. 1984 and emendation of the description of the Genus Azospirillum. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 35, 117–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falk E C, Johnson J L, Baldani V L D, Döbereiner J and Krieg N R 1986 Deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acid homology studies of the genera Azospirillum and Conglomeromonas. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 36, 80–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fred E B and Waksman S A 1928 Laboratory Manual of General Microbiology. McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New York, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haahtela K, Wartiovaara T, Sundman V and Skujins J 1981 Root-associated N2 fixation (acetylene reduction) by Enterobacteriaceae and Azospirillum strains in cold-climate spodosols. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 41, 203–206.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill S and Postgate J R 1969 Failure of putative nitrogen-fixing bacteria to fix nitrogen. J. Gen. Microbiol. 58, 277–285.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krieg N R and Holt J G (Eds.) 1984 Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. VI. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore. 964p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima E, Boddey R M and Döbereiner J 1987 Quantification of biological nitrogen fixation associated with sugar cane using a 15N aided nitrogen balance. Soil Biol. Biochem. 19, 165–170.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magalhães F M M, Baldani J I, Souto S M, Kuykendall J R and Döbereiner J 1983 A new acid tolerant Azospirillum species. An. Acad. Bras. Ciên. 55, 417–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • McClung C R and Patriquin D G 1980 Isolation of a nitrogen-fixing Campylobacter species from the roots of Spartina alterniflora Loisel. Can. J. Microbiol. 26, 881–886.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neal J L Jr and Larson RI 1976 Acetylene reduction by bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat. Soil Biol. Biochem. 8, 151–155.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okon Y 1985 Azospirillum as a potential inoculant for agriculture. Trends Biotechnol. 3, 223–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patriquin D G, Döbereiner J and Jain D K 1983 Sites and processes of association between diazotrophs and grasses. Can. J. Microbiol. 29, 900–915.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reihold B, Hurek T, Fendrik I, Pot B, Gillis M, Kersters K, Thielemans S and De Ley J 1987 Azospirillum halopraeferens sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing organism associated with roots of kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth.). Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 37, 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schröder M 1932 Die Assimilation des Luftstickstoffs durch einige Bakterien. Zentralbl. Bakt. Parasitenkd. 85, 178–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seldin L, Van Elsas J D and Penido E G C 1984 Bacillus azotofixans sp nov. a nitrogen fixing species from Brazilian soils and grass roots. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 34, 451–456.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seldin L and Dubnau D 1985 Deoxyribonucleic acid homology among Bacillus polymyxa, Bacillus macerans, Bacillus azotofixans, and other nitrogen-fixing Bacillus strains. Int. J. Syst. Bacterid. 35, 151–154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tarrand J J, Krieg N R and Döbereiner J 1978 A taxonomic study of the Spirillum lipoferum group, with descriptions of a new genus, Azospirillum gen. nov. and two species. Azospirillum lipoferum (Beijerinck) comb. nov. and Azospirillum brasilense sp. nov. Can. J. Microbiol. 24, 967–980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tchan Y T, Wyszomirska-Dreher Z, New P B and Zhoy J C 1983 Taxonomy of the Azotobacteraceae determined by using immunoelectrophoresis. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 33, 147–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson J P and Skerman V B D 1979 Azotobacteraceae: The Taxonomy and Ecology of the Aerobic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winogradsky S 1949 Microbiologic du sol. Masson et Cie, Paris. 861p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EMBRAPA-UAPNPBS, Km 47, Seropédica, 23851, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Johanna Döbereiner

Authors
  1. Johanna Döbereiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK

    F. A. Skinner

  2. EMBRAPA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    R. M. Boddey

  3. University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    I. Fendrik

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Döbereiner, J. (1989). Isolation and identification of root associated diazotrophs. In: Skinner, F.A., Boddey, R.M., Fendrik, I. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0889-5_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0889-5_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6888-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0889-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation