Strains of M. ciceri, symbionts of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) were incubated with the flavonoids naringenin, daidzein and quercetin which have earlier been reported as inducers and inhibitors of nodABC-lacZ fusion of M. ciceri. Preincubation of M. ciceri with naringenin and daidzein (100 nmol/L) for 1 d improved the competitive ability of the inoculated strain while preincubation with quercetin decreased the nodule occupancy of inoculated strain under sterile conditions. Under non-sterile conditions induced strains of Rcd 301 and HT-6 formed by 23 and 18% more nodules, respectively, than untreated control. Quercetin-treated strains showed by 13-20% fewer nodules than untreated controls. Therefore, it is possible to regulate the competitive ability of inoculated strains by flavonoid treatment.

Department of Microbiology Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Hisar 125 004 India

See more in PubMed

Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 1989 May-Jun;2(3):97-106 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Nov;84(21):7428-32 PubMed

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1990 May;56(5):1333-41 PubMed

Plant Physiol. 1991 Oct;97(2):759-64 PubMed

Annu Rev Biochem. 1996;65:503-35 PubMed

Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2001;46(3):217-22 PubMed

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1991 Jul;57(7):1886-92 PubMed

Plant Cell. 1996 Oct;8(10):1885-98 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Jun;85(11):3810-4 PubMed

Mol Microbiol. 1994 Jul;13(1):171-8 PubMed

Biotechnol Adv. 1993;11(4):741-79 PubMed

Microbiol Res. 1999 May;154(1):49-55 PubMed

Science. 1986 Aug 29;233(4767):977-80 PubMed

Annu Rev Microbiol. 2000;54:257-88 PubMed

Competition among Bradyrhizobium strains for nodulation of green gram (Vigna radiata): use of dark-nodule strain