Evidence from inhibitor studies that the endophyte synthesises nitrogenase in the root nodules of Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn

Field nodules of Alnus incana ssp. rugosa and Myrica gale exhibit pronounced acetylene-induced declines in nitrogenase activity

The time course of acetylene reduction was examined in field nodules of speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (Du Roi) Claus.) and sweet gale (Myrica gale L.) with an open flow-through system. When detached speckled alder nodules were measured in the laboratory, there was an initial peak rate of nitrogenase activity between 2 and 3 min followed by pronounced declines to 50% of the peak rate (early summer) and 66% (late summer) at 9 min, after which there was little further change. Speckled alder nodules measured in the field while still attached to the plant also had a peak rate between 2 and 3 min. Most sweet gale nodules had a peak rate at 2–3 min and a sharp decline to 27% at 21 min followed by a partial recovery to 49% at 60 min. The time courses of field nodules of speckled alder and sweet gale were comparable with those of intact, growth chamber grown seedlings. The initial peak rate is the most accurate measure of nitrogenase activity and the only reliable way to measure this is with an open, flow-through system. We describe a simple, inexpensive, flow-through system for use in the field. Key words: acetylene-induced decline, Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, actinorhizal plants, Myrica gale, nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase activity.

Oxygen protection of nitrogenase in Frankia sp. HFPArI3

O2 protection of nitrogenase in a cultured Frankia isolate from Alnus rubra (HFPArI3) was studied in vivo. Evidence for a passive gas diffusion barrier in the vesicles was obtained by kinetic analysis of in vivo O2 uptake and acetylene reduction rates in response to substrate concentration. O2 of NH4+-grown cells showed an apparent KmO2 of approximately 1 microM O2. In N2-fixing cultures a second Km O2 of about 215 microM O2 was observed. Thus, respiration remained unsaturated by O2 at air-saturation levels. In vivo, the apparent Km for acetylene was more than 10-fold greater than reported in vitro values. These data were interpreted as evidence for a gas diffusion barrier in the vesicles but not vegetative filaments of Frankia sp. HFPArI3.

Localisation of citrulline synthesis in the alder root nodule and its implication in nitrogen fixation

The site of citrulline synthesis in the alder root nodule symbiosis has been located cytochemically in the mitochondria of the host cell. Added to our understanding of nitrogen fixation in this symbiosis such results suggest that the host exerts a modifying influence on the nitrogen metabolism of the endophyte and is in keeping with the findings of other workers on the blue-green algal/fungal or hepatic symbiosis.