Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) by lines composing 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass
Response of 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass to inoculation with Klebsiella pneumoniae strain W-6 was tested under field conditions. Field inoculation did not increase nitrogenase activity measured in situ, but did increase the nitrogenase activity as measured using an excised root assay which included a 10-h incubation before the addition of acetylene. Fifteen lines composing 'Park' were grown in fritted-clay medium, inoculated with soil, and compared for nitrogenase activities using the excised roots assay. Significant differences were observed between two lines. Six lines were selected from the 15 lines, grown hydroponically, inoculated with soil, and assayed for nitrogenase activity using intact 105-day-old plants. Nitrogenase activities were immediately detectable and increased curvilinearly. Differences in nitrogenase activities among the six lines were detected within 1 h and significant differences were evident in 4 h. The six selected lines were also tested for levels of anthrone-reactive sugars in roots and root exudates of hydroponically grown plants. Significant differences were detected in levels of sugars in roots but not in root exudates. Possible correlations were sought among and within the three different experiments involving the six selected lines. With hydroponically grown plants, nitrogenase activities during the first 4 h were highly correlated with those after 24 h incubation. Correlations were found between nitrogenase activities in excised roots and soluble sugar concentrations in root tissue and root exudates.