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Ecophysiological aspects of growth and nitrogen fixation in Azospirillum spp.

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes

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

Abstract

The nitrogenase activity of Azospirillum spp. is efficiently regulated by environmental factors. In A. brasilense and A. lipoferum a rapid ‘switch off’ of nitrogenase activity occurs after the addition of ammonium chloride. As in photosynthetic bacteria, a covalent modification of nitrogenase reductase (Fe-protein) is involved. In A. amazonense, a non-covalent mechanism causes only a partial inhibition of nitrogenase activity after ammonium chloride is added. In anaerobic conditions, nitrogenase reductase is also ‘switched off’ by a covalent modification in A. brasilense and A. lipoferum. Short-time exposure of Azospirillum to increased oxygen levels causes a partially reversible inhibition of nitrogenase activity, but no covalent modification is involved. Azospirillum spp. show variations in their oxygen tolerance. High levels of carotenoids confer a slightly improved oxygen tolerance. Certain amino acids (e.g. glutamate, aspartate, histidine and serine) affect growth and nitrogen fixation differently in Azospirillum spp. Amino acids may influence growth and nitrogen fixation of Azospirillum in the association with plants. Azospirillum brasilense and A. halopraeferens are the more osmotolerant species. They utilize most amino acids poorly and accumulate glycine betaine, which also occurs in osmotically stressed grasses as a compatible solute to counteract osmotic stress. Nitrogen fixation is stimulated by glycine betaine and choline. Efficient iron acquisition is a prerequisite for competitive and aerotolerant growth and for high nitrogenase activity. Azospirillum halopraeferens and A. amazonense assimilate iron reasonably well, whereas growth of some A. brasilense and A. lipoferum strains is severely inhibited by iron limitation and by competition with foreign microbial iron chelators. However, growth of certain iron-limited A. brasilense strains is stimulated by the phytosiderophore mugineic acid. Thus, various plant-derived substances may stimulate growth and nitrogen fixation of Azospirillum.

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  1. Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Universität Bayreuth, Postfach 101251, D-8580, Bayreuth, Germany

    A. Hartmann

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  1. Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK

    F. A. Skinner

  2. EMBRAPA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    R. M. Boddey

  3. University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    I. Fendrik

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Hartmann, A. (1989). Ecophysiological aspects of growth and nitrogen fixation in Azospirillum spp.. 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_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0889-5_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6888-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0889-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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