High dependence on nitrogen-fixing bacteria in a Neotropical legume species

Autor(es)

Souza, Caroline ; Leal, Laura C. ; Lima, Vanessa ; Melati, Bruno ; Centeno, Danilo ; Gross, Eduardo ; Urzedo, Alessandro L. ; Nogueira, Anselmo

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: SYMBIOSIS; v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2025-03-20.

Resumo

Mutualisms are cooperative interactions between species that exhibit varying degrees of partner dependence. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the dependence of the native legume species Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench on its nitrogen-fixing bacteria partners, rhizobia. Our study aimed to determine the nature of this association and the level of plant dependence on rhizobia. We conducted a manipulative experiment in a climatically controlled greenhouse using sterilized soil, where we cultivated 180 C. nictitans plants, 90 plants with rhizobia (R+), and the remaining 90 plants without rhizobia (R-) inoculation (exclusion treatment). We assessed plant dependence on nitrogen-fixing bacteria by comparing survival rates, growth patterns, and bud and flower production between R + and R- plants. Additionally, we investigated the investment of R + plants in root nodulation and its influence on plant biomass. The results supported a highly dependent association between C. nictitans and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. R- plants exhibited increased mortality rates, stunted growth, and a complete absence of reproductive structures. R + plants that produced many nodules had a higher accumulated dry biomass. This study underscores the variability in dependence within mutualistic associations in tropical ecosystems. Understanding partner dependence in these habitats is crucial for unraveling the ecological and evolutionary processes underlying the mutualisms, especially in tropical ecosystems. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/13358-1 - Triagem de parceiros baseada em competição como mecanismo estabilizador de mutualismos facultativos entre plantas e formigas
• Beneficiário: Laura Carolina Leal de Sousa
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 19/19544-7 - Efeitos sinérgicos de múltiplos mutualistas nas plantas: como bactérias, formigas e abelhas contribuem para a evolução de um grupo de leguminosas
• Beneficiário: Anselmo Nogueira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Jovens Pesquisadores