Factors governing attachment of to legume roots at acid, neutral, and alkaline pHs.

Unlabelled: Rhizobial attachment to host legume roots is the first physical interaction of bacteria and plants in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The pH-dependent primary attachment of biovar viciae 3841 to (pea) roots was investigated by genome-wide insertion sequencing, luminescence-based attachment assays, and proteomic analysis. Under acid, neutral, or alkaline pH, a total of 115 genes are needed for primary attachment under one or more environmental pH, with 22 genes required for all.

Rhizobium determinants of rhizosphere persistence and root colonization.

Bacterial persistence in the rhizosphere and colonization of root niches are critical for the establishment of many beneficial plant-bacteria interactions including those between Rhizobium leguminosarum and its host legumes. Despite this, most studies on R. leguminosarum have focused on its symbiotic lifestyle as an endosymbiont in root nodules.