Why are most rhizobia beneficial to their plant hosts, rather than parasitic?

R. Ford Denison; E. Toby Kiers

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2004.08.005

Why are most rhizobia beneficial to their plant hosts, rather than parasitic?

R. Ford Denison, E. Toby Kiers

Research output: Contribution to journal › Short survey › peer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multiple strains per plant and root-to-root (not seed-borne) transmission should favor rhizobia that invest in their own reproduction, rather than symbiotic N₂ fixation, as analogous factors may favor pathogen virulence. But legumes can select for greater mutualism, controlling nodule O₂ supply and reducing reproduction of rhizobia that fix less N ₂.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1235-1239
Number of pages	5
Journal	Microbes and Infection
Volume	6
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2004.08.005
State	Published - Nov 2004
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Thanks to Bob Rousseau for Fig. 1. Our research on this topic is supported by an NSF Graduate Fellowship, NSF grant 0212674, the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, and the Land Institute.

Keywords

Evolution
Fabaceae
Nitrogen fixation
Oxygen
Rhizobium
Symbiosis
Virulence

Publisher link

10.1016/j.micinf.2004.08.005

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@article{87dffc42f2f046678c2fb4729ab9956f,

title = "Why are most rhizobia beneficial to their plant hosts, rather than parasitic?",

abstract = "Multiple strains per plant and root-to-root (not seed-borne) transmission should favor rhizobia that invest in their own reproduction, rather than symbiotic N2 fixation, as analogous factors may favor pathogen virulence. But legumes can select for greater mutualism, controlling nodule O2 supply and reducing reproduction of rhizobia that fix less N 2.",

keywords = "Evolution, Fabaceae, Nitrogen fixation, Oxygen, Rhizobium, Symbiosis, Virulence",

author = "Denison, {R. Ford} and {Toby Kiers}, E.",

note = "Funding Information: Thanks to Bob Rousseau for Fig. 1. Our research on this topic is supported by an NSF Graduate Fellowship, NSF grant 0212674, the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, and the Land Institute.",

year = "2004",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.micinf.2004.08.005",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "6",

pages = "1235--1239",

journal = "Microbes and Infection",

issn = "1286-4579",