The effect of anti-fungal antibiotics on the nodulation of Trifolium subterraneum and the estimation of Rhizobium trifolii populations

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (32) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Robinson

Three anti-fungal antibiotics (cycloheximide, griseofulvin, and mycostatin) were tested for their effects on inoculated Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover). All three influenced the growth and nodulation of the test plant, the effects being least with mycostatin. Mycostatin was further examined for its effect on a plant-infection technique for estimating Rhizobium numbers. The presence in culture media of mycostatin did not impair the accuracy of the plant-infection test for counting rhizobia in a pure culture. Moreover, when the plant-infection technique was used for counting rhizobia in soil, the antibiotic reduced the amount of infection of the test plant by miscellaneous soil micro-organisms, thereby improving nodulation. It is concluded that the incorporation of mycostatin into media (100 p.p.m.) used for growing test plants in plant-infection tests will improve the reliability of the method.

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Simpfendorfer ◽  
T. J. Harden ◽  
G. M. Murray

The interaction between 29 isolates of Rhizobium and the in vitro growth of 3 strains of Phytophthora clandestina was investigated to determine the potential of these bacteria as biological control agents against root rot of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). The biological control activity of Rhizobium on the severity of root disease in seedlings was also investigated under glasshouse conditions. Thirteen of the 29 Rhizobium isolates caused significant reductions in the hyphal growth of the 3 P. clandestina isolates examined. Inoculation of seedlings with Rhizobium trifolii reduced the severity of root disease by 14–58% with corresponding increases in dry matter production of 20–73%. These results indicate that Rhizobium species have potential as biological control agents against the root rot of T. subterraneum seedlings caused by P. clandestina.


1954 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 247 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Harris

A study was made of a number of effective and ineffective strains of Rhizobium trifolii in association with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), variety Bacchus Marsh. Where these were inoculated singly into sterilized soils in pot experiments conducted in the greenhouse, typical effective, ineffective, or intermediate plant reactions were obtained. Where more than one strain was inoculated, competition between strains took place and was reflected in nodule pattern and plant reaction. Some strains consistently failed to produce appreciable nodules in the presence of other rhizobia, some showed modification to varying degrees, and some were unaffected. Such behaviour was found to be closely linked with the ability of the strain to proliferate in the rhizosphere of the host plant, and placement of inoculum was shown to influence plant reaction. The concept of "incursion" as a property of a rhizobial strain is suggested. An incursive strain is one able to migrate from the initial site of inoculation and establish an adequate population in the root zone of the susceptible host despite the presence of active elements of the indigenous microflora and microfauna, including antagonistic and predatory forms. The property of incursion is independent of considerations of efficiency of nitrogen fixation or virulence for the host plant. Strains of rhizobia which are poorly incursive may fail to infect the host upon which they have been inoculated if subject to competition from indigenous rhizobia already established in the soil. The necessity of assessing properties of virulence and incursion as well as efficiency of nitrogen fixation in selecting rhizobia for purposes of commercial inoculation is stressed, and the methods of making such tests are discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
P. S. Cocks ◽  
A. D. Swan ◽  
A. B. Smith

The proportions of biologically fixed (Pfix) plant nitrogen (N) and the total amounts of N2 fixed by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) growing in pure culture and in mixtures with different densities (5, 10, 20, or 40plants/m2) of newly sown phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) or lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) were followed over 3 years in a field study using the 15N natural abundance technique. The amount of fixed N in subterranean clover was linearly related to shoot biomass. Over the 3-year period, subterranean clover fixed 23–34 kg N/t shoot biomass compared with 17–29 kg N/t shoot biomass in lucerne. Based on above-ground biomass, pure subterranean clover fixed 314 kg N/ha over the 3 years compared with 420–510 kg N/ha by lucerne–clover mixtures and 143–177 kg N/ha by phalaris–clover mixtures. The superior N2 fixation by the lucerneŒsubterranean clover mixtures was due to the N fixed by the lucerne and the presence of a higher subterranean clover biomass relative to that occurring in the adjacent phalaris plots. In the first year, 92% of subterranean clover shoot N was derived from fixation compared with only 59% of lucerne. The reliance of clover upon fixed N2 remained high (73–95%) throughout the 3 years in all swards, except in pure subterranean clover and lucerne in August 1996 (56 and 64%, respectively). Subterranean clover usually fixed a higher proportion of its N when grown in mixtures with phalaris than with lucerne. The calculated Pfix values for lucerne (47–61% in 1995 and 39–52% in 1996) were consistently lower than in subterranean clover and tended to increase with lucerne density. Although lucerne derived a lower proportion of its N from fixation than subterranean clover, its tissue N concentration was consistently higher, indicating it was effective at scavenging soil mineral N. It was concluded that including lucerne in wheat-belt pastures will increase inputs of fixed N. Although lucerne decreased subterranean clover biomass, it maintained or raised Pfix values compared with pure subterranean clover swards. The presence of phalaris maintained a high dependence on N2 fixation by subterranean clover, but overall these swards fixed less N due to the lower clover herbage yields. Perennial and annual legumes appear compatible if sown in a mix and can contribute more N2 to the system than where the annual is sown alone or with a perennial grass. These findings suggest that increases in the amount of N2 fixed can be achieved through different legume combinations without interfering greatly with the N fixation process. Different combinations may also result in more efficient use of fixed N2 through reduced leaching. Further work looking at combinations of annuals possibly with different maturity times, different annual and perennial legume combinations, and pure combinations of perennial (e.g. lucerne) could be investigated with the aim of maximising N2 fixation and use. Grazing management to encourage clover production in mixtures with phalaris will be necessary before the potential of subterranean clover to contribute fixed N2 in these swards is fully realised.


1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
RR Young ◽  
KJ Morthorpe ◽  
PH Croft ◽  
H Nicol

The tolerance of 5 species of annual medics (Medicago spp.), Trifolium subterraneum cv. Nungarin, and hedge mustard (Sisymbrium orientale) to a range of post-emergence broadleaf herbicides was tested over 2 years. The least damaging to M. truncatula was 2,4-DB, which provided more consistent and effective control of hedge mustard than the other chemicals tested, including the less expensive tank mix of 2,4-DB + diuron. MCPA amine or sodium salt (300 g a.i./ha), bromoxynil (420 g a.i./ha), and tank mixes containing MCPA amine (150-175 g a.i./ha) severely damaged annual medics, particularly M. truncatula, with flowering delayed by up to 21 days, and dry matter and seed yields often significantly (P<0.05) reduced. Seed yields of most test plants indicated a degree of recovery from herbicide damage assessed visually after 10 days. Hedge mustard was not always as severely damaged by MCPA amine as was M. truncatula. Nungarin subterranean clover and M. aculeata SAD 2356 were more tolerant than the M. truncatula cultivars of MCPA amine, MCPA sodium salt, MCPA tank mixes, and bromoxynil, and less tolerant of 2,4-DB. Medicago littoralis, M. polymorpha and M. laciniata were severely damaged by bromoxynil but were more tolerant of MCPA than M. truncatula.


1960 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 456 ◽  
Author(s):  
NP Kefford ◽  
J Brockwell ◽  
JA Zwar

When subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) plants were grown for 3 weeks over distilled water, tryptophan could be detected in the root medium of both sterile cultures and those inoculated with Rhizobium trifolii 3 days earlier. Auxin could be detected only in the inoculated medium. The auxin had the chromatographic and growth properties of indole�3-acetic acid (IAA). Since nodule bacteria produce auxin only in the presence of tryptophan, which is a probable precursor of lAA, it is suggested that the tryptophan exuded by clover roots is converted to lAA by nodule bacteria. Auxin was still produced in the root medium when strains of Rhizobium which do not nodulate subterranean olover roots were used as inooulant, or when nitrate, which delays nodulation, was present in the medium.


1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Robinson

Cultures of root-nodule bacteria, from the nodules of red clover and subterranean clover growing closely together in the field, were tested for comparative symbiotic ability (effectiveness) with both red clover and subterranean clover. It was found that test plants of either host species nodulated faster and more effectively when inoculated with cultures isolated from the homologous host growing in the field than did test plants inoculated with cultures isolated from the heterologous host. Because the hosts had originally been nodulated in the presence of the same field populations of Rhizobium trifolii, it is concluded that the host legume exerts a selective effect in accepting infections from a mixed population.


1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (46) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Brockwell ◽  
AC Robinson

Twenty-nine lines of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), mostly selected for low levels of oestrogenic isoflavones, were inoculated with seven effective strains of Rhizobium trifolii. They were grown at two different root temperatures and their performances compared with those of the subterraneum clover cultivar, Tallarook. Ten criteria were used to assess symbiotic competence. No line was inferior to Tallarook in all ten criteria, but one line was inferior in nine of the ten, three in seven of the ten and fifteen others were poorer than Tallarook in one to six criteria. Of the ten lines whose symbiotic performances were as good as or better than Tallarook, a number also had low isoflavone levels, but there was no evidence to suggest that symbiotic competence was related to isoflavone content. It is concluded that it will be necessary to exercise caution in the agronomic or breeding use of lines Which are not consistently symbiotically competent.


1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Evans ◽  
Z Hochman ◽  
GE O'Connor ◽  
GJ Osborne

Rhizobium trifolii and root nodulation were compared in acid and limed soil to investigate mechanisms by which current soil acidity on the slopes of southern New South Wales may reduce the growth of Trifolium subterraneum. Increasing soil pH increased both the rate at which Rhizobium trifolii colonized soil and the frequency of nodules/g root (NF). Thus, numbers of R. trifolii were greater in carbonate-treated soil throughout autumn and winter compared to unlimed soil. In limed soil R. trifolii were measured at 104-105/g soil as early as seedling germination, 40-200 x more than in unlimed soil. Despite this, by spring, the numbers of rhizobia in soil without lime reached large and even similar levels as occurred in limed soil. Subsequently, with the drying of soil in summer, the numbers of R. trifolii declined markedly in both untreated and limed soil. Maximum NF could not be achieved with addition of Ca without increase in pH. From the field observations and other research, a hypothetical model is proposed to explain how differences in the rates of change in rhizobial numbers due to acidity may determine nodulation (NF). Thus, it is suggested that, when there is a repetitive decline in numbers of R. trifolii to low levels in summer, their subsequent rate of increase in the following autumn influences nodule abundance. The production of DM in an acidic soil appeared to be limited by symbiotic N2 fixation since added N fertilizer removed lime response. The limitation to N2 fixation did not appear to be due to lower occupancy of nodules by Rhizobium strains with less potential for N2 fixation than those in limed soil. It is possible that the effect of acidity on NF influences DM, though sampling limitations made it difficult to generalize in this regard.


Author(s):  
P.B. Teh

AMV was shown to be transmitted by sap, aphids and through lucerne seed, but not by Cuscuta. Virus source and test plant influenced transmission frequency. Sap-inoculation tests showed that 20 species of plants were susceptible to this virus. Thirteen species of plants from the fields where AMV had been detected were tested but only three were found to be infected with the virus.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.


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