Biogeographical Patterns of Legume-Nodulating Burkholderia spp.: from African Fynbos to Continental Scales.

Unlabelled: Rhizobia of the genus Burkholderia have large-scale distribution ranges and are usually associated with South African papilionoid and South American mimosoid legumes, yet little is known about their genetic structuring at either local or global geographic scales. To understand variation at different spatial scales, from individual legumes in the fynbos (South Africa) to a global context, we analyzed chromosomal (16S rRNA, recA) and symbiosis (nifH, nodA, nodC) gene sequences. We showed that the global diversity of nodulation genes is generally grouped according to the South African papilionoid or South American mimosoid subfamilies, whereas chromosomal sequence data were unrelated to biogeography.

Symbiont abundance is more important than pre-infection partner choice in a Rhizobium - legume mutualism.

It is known that the genetic diversity of conspecific rhizobia present in root nodules differs greatly among populations of a legume species, which has led to the suggestion that both dispersal limitation and the local environment affect rhizobial genotypic composition. However, it remains unclear whether rhizobial genotypes residing in root nodules are representative of the entire population of compatible symbiotic rhizobia. Since symbiotic preferences differ among legume populations, the genetic composition of rhizobia found within nodules may reflect the preferences of the local hosts, rather than the full diversity of potential nodulating rhizobia present in the soil.

Characterization of the papilionoid-Burkholderia interaction in the Fynbos biome: The diversity and distribution of beta-rhizobia nodulating Podalyria calyptrata (Fabaceae, Podalyrieae).

The South African Fynbos soils are renowned for nitrogen-fixing Burkholderia associated with diverse papilionoid legumes of the tribes Crotalarieae, Hypocalypteae, Indigofereae, Phaseoleae and Podalyrieae. However, despite numerous rhizobial studies in the region, the symbiotic diversity of Burkholderia has not been investigated in relation to a specific host legume and its geographical provenance. This study analyzed the diversity of nodulating strains of Burkholderia from the legume species Podalyria calyptrata.

Recombination and horizontal transfer of nodulation and ACC deaminase (acdS) genes within Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria nodulating legumes of the Cape Fynbos biome.

The goal of this work is to study the evolution and the degree of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) within rhizobial genera of both Alphaproteobacteria (Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium) and Betaproteobacteria (Burkholderia), originating from South African Fynbos legumes. By using a phylogenetic approach and comparing multiple chromosomal and symbiosis genes, we revealed conclusive evidence of high degrees of horizontal transfer of nodulation genes among closely related species of both groups of rhizobia, but also among species with distant genetic backgrounds (Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium), underscoring the importance of lateral transfer of symbiosis traits as an important evolutionary force among rhizobia of the Cape Fynbos biome. The extensive exchange of symbiosis genes in the Fynbos is in contrast with a lack of significant events of HGT among Burkholderia symbionts from the South American Cerrado and Caatinga biome.

Symbiotic diversity, specificity and distribution of rhizobia in native legumes of the Core Cape Subregion (South Africa).

Rhizobial diversity and host preferences were assessed in 65 native Fynbos legumes of the papilionoid legume tribes Astragaleae, Crotalarieae, Genisteae, Indigofereae, Millettieae, Phaseoleae, Podalyrieae, Psoraleeae and Sesbanieae. Sequence analyses of chromosomal 16S rRNA, recA, atpD and symbiosis-related nodA, nifH genes in parallel with immunogold labelling assays identified the symbionts as alpha- (Azorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium) and beta-rhizobial (Burkholderia) lineages with the majority placed in the genera Mesorhizobium and Burkholderia showing a wide range of host interactions. Despite a degree of symbiotic promiscuity in the tribes Crotalarieae and Indigofereae nodulating with both alpha- and beta-rhizobia, Mesorhizobium symbionts appeared to exhibit a general host preference for the tribe Psoraleeae, whereas Burkholderia prevailed in the Podalyrieae.

Population structure of root nodulating Rhizobium leguminosarum in Vicia cracca populations at local to regional geographic scales.

The genetic diversity and population structure of about 350 Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae isolates from Vicia cracca were analysed. A hierarchical sampling design was used covering three regions, one region in Belgium and two in France, in which multiple local V. cracca populations were sampled.

Phylogenetic lineages in Vanguerieae (Rubiaceae) associated with Burkholderia bacteria in sub-Saharan Africa.

Premise Of The Study: It is well known that mutualistic bacteria can provide substantial benefits to their host plants. However, 'how,' 'why,' and the possible applications of such an interaction are only second to the questions 'who is involved?', and 'where does it occur?'. In the coffee family (Rubiaceae), certain species closely interact with endophytic leaf bacteria that are freely distributed among the mesophyll cells.

Screening for leaf-associated endophytes in the genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae).

Burkholderia endophytes were identified within the leaves of non-nodulated members of the genus Psychotria. In contrast to leaf-nodulated Psychotria species, which are known to accommodate their endosymbionts into specialized endosymbiont-housing structures, non-nodulated species lack bacterial leaf nodules and harbor endosymbionts intercellularly between mesophyll cells. Based on molecular data (rps16, trnG, and trnLF), the phylogenetic reconstruction of the host plants revealed a separate origin of leaf-nodulated and non-nodulated Psychotria species.

Identification, origin, and evolution of leaf nodulating symbionts of Sericanthe (Rubiaceae).

Bacterial leaf symbiosis is an intimate association between bacteria and plants in which endosymbionts are housed within leaf nodules. This phenomenon has been reported in three genera of Rubiaceae (Pavetta, Psychotria, and Sericanthe), but the bacterial partner has only been identified in Psychotria and Pavetta. Here we report the identification of symbiotic bacteria in two leaf nodulating Sericanthe species.

Endosymbiont transmission mode in bacterial leaf nodulation as revealed by a population genetic study of Psychotria leptophylla.

Leaf-nodulated plants are colonized by vertically inherited bacterial endosymbionts, which maintain symbioses throughout host generations. The permanent character of the interaction implies phylogenetic congruence between the host and the endosymbiont. However, the present population genetic study of Psychotria leptophylla provides evidence for a mixed symbiont transmission involving both vertical inheritance and horizontal transfers from the environment.

Bacterial leaf symbiosis in angiosperms: host specificity without co-speciation.

Bacterial leaf symbiosis is a unique and intimate interaction between bacteria and flowering plants, in which endosymbionts are organized in specialized leaf structures. Previously, bacterial leaf symbiosis has been described as a cyclic and obligate interaction in which the endosymbionts are vertically transmitted between plant generations and lack autonomous growth. Theoretically this allows for co-speciation between leaf nodulated plants and their endosymbionts.

Endophytic bacteria in toxic South African plants: identification, phylogeny and possible involvement in gousiekte.

Background: South African plant species of the genera Fadogia, Pavetta and Vangueria (all belonging to Rubiaceae) are known to cause gousiekte (literally 'quick disease'), a fatal cardiotoxicosis of ruminants characterised by acute heart failure four to eight weeks after ingestion. Noteworthy is that all these plants harbour endophytes in their leaves: nodulating bacteria in specialized nodules in Pavetta and non-nodulating bacteria in the intercellular spaces between mesophyll cells in Fadogia and Vangueria.

Principal Findings: Isolation and analyses of these endophytes reveal the presence of Burkholderia bacteria in all the plant species implicated in gousiekte.

Bacterial leaf symbiosis in Ardisia (Myrsinoideae, Primulaceae): molecular evidence for host specificity.

The association between bacteria and leaves in Ardisia has been described as a cyclic and obligate symbiosis in which bacteria are maintained throughout all stages of the plant's life cycle to guarantee normal growth and survival of the host. This intimate interaction suggests that both partners have co-diversified together. To test this co-speciation hypothesis, we constructed an endosymbiont (16S rDNA and gyrB) and host (rps16, trnL, matK and ITS) phylogeny.

Identification of the bacterial endosymbionts in leaf nodules of Pavetta (Rubiaceae).

Three genera in the Rubiaceae (Pavetta, Psychotria and Sericanthe) harbour bacterial endosymbionts within leaf nodules or galls. The present paper identifies the bacterial endophytes in three leaf-nodulating Pavetta species. In order to reveal their identity and assess their phylogenetic position, 16S rRNA, recA and gyrB genes were sequenced from an extensive sampling of Burkholderia strains.

Rate accelerations in nuclear 18S rDNA of mycoheterotrophic and parasitic angiosperms.

Rate variation in genes from all three genomes has been observed frequently in plant lineages with a parasitic and mycoheterotrophic mode of life. While the loss of photosynthetic ability leads to a relaxation of evolutionary constraints in genes involved in the photosynthetic apparatus, it remains to be determined how prevalent increased substitution rates are in nuclear DNA of non-photosynthetic angiosperms. In this study we infer rates of molecular evolution of 18S rDNA of all parasitic and mycoheterotorphic plant families (except Lauraceae and Polygalaceae) using relative rate tests.

Diversification of myco-heterotrophic angiosperms: evidence from Burmanniaceae.

Background: Myco-heterotrophy evolved independently several times during angiosperm evolution. Although many species of myco-heterotrophic plants are highly endemic and long-distance dispersal seems unlikely, some genera are widely dispersed and have pantropical distributions, often with large disjunctions. Traditionally this has been interpreted as evidence for an old age of these taxa.