Alteration of soil rhizobial populations by rabbit latrines could impair symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the insular alpine ecosystem of Teide National Park

Pulido-Suárez, Laura; Díaz-Peña, Francisco Javier; Pino, Jesús Santiago Notario del; Medina-Cabrera, Ayose; León-Barrios, Milagros

doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2020.103850

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…In a previous study we described that strains of genus Bradyrhizobium are the main microsymbionts of S. supranubius (Pulido-Suárez et al, 2021) and showed, coinciding with Wheeler and Dickson (1990), the positive influence of this symbiosis in the ecosystem, since the soils around this legume have higher N content. However, the symbiotic effectiveness of the S. supranubius bradyrhizobia has not yet been evaluated nor how these endosymbiotic bacteria promote growth of the broom plants in their natural habitat.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…These strains were selected because in a previous infectivity test on the original host plant (performed in greenhouses at the University of La Laguna) they showed a relative symbiotic efficiency of about 60%, calculated as: (Inoculated plant Dry Weight/N-fertilized plant Dry Weight) x 100. Strain SSUT18 had been characterized in a previous study (Pulido-Suárez et al, 2021) and the other two are characterized here by sequencing the genes glnII (glutamine synthetase II) and nodC (nodulation protein C). Genomic DNA was extracted, quantified and normalized as described in Pulido-Suárez et al (2021).…”

Section: Rhizobial Strains Used In This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Strain SSUT18 had been characterized in a previous study (Pulido-Suárez et al, 2021) and the other two are characterized here by sequencing the genes glnII (glutamine synthetase II) and nodC (nodulation protein C). Genomic DNA was extracted, quantified and normalized as described in Pulido-Suárez et al (2021). The glnII genes were amplified using primers glnII12F and glnII689R (Vinuesa et al, 2005b).…”

Section: Rhizobial Strains Used In This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given that the highly conserved sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of the S. supranubius bradyrhizobia produced a poor resolution to the species level (Pulido-Suárez et al, 2021), the taxonomic characterization of the three selected strains used in this study was based on the glnII housekeeping gene sequences (Supplementary Figure 3). In this phylogeny the strain SSUT18 is classified as a close relative of the species Bradyrhizobium canariense, while strains SSUT74 and SSUT109 clustered close to species B. rifense.…”

Section: Rhizobia Strainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is fundamental, since broom plants grow on poorly developed soils, where N content is very low and limits vegetation establishment (Arbelo et al, 2009;Díaz et al, 2011;Rodríguez et al, 2014). Therefore, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) seems to be the key input of this element into the soil of this ecosystem (Wheeler and Dickson, 1990;Pulido-Suárez et al, 2021), highlighting the need for the maintenance of the Teide broom population. Thus, given the ecological importance of this legume in the N cycle, its decline could compromise the maintenance of the ecosystem and affect its total productivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applying Agronomic Principles of Rhizobial Inoculation to the Conservation of a Keystone Legume Species in a High Mountain Ecosystem on an Oceanic Island

et al. 2021

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The Teide broom, Spartocytisus supranubius, is an endemism of the Canary Islands (Spain) and the dominant legume of the Tenerife high-mountain ecosystem in Teide National Park (N.P.). Biotic and abiotic stresses are causing a progressive deterioration and decline of the population of this keystone legume. Since its symbiosis with rhizobia is the main nitrogen (N) input into these soils, diminishing the biological nitrogen fixation could compromise the maintenance of this alpine ecosystem. Symbiotically efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia have been widely and successfully used as inoculants for agronomic purposes. However, only rarely has rhizobial inoculation been used for legume species conservation in natural ecosystems. In this study, we assessed three Bradyrhizobium sp. strains as inoculants for S. supranubius on seedlings grown in a greenhouse experiment and on juvenile individuals (2-years-old) transplanted on a field trial in the N.P. Plant growth as well as symbiotic and plant physiological parameters were measured to evaluate the effect of rhizobia inoculation. Our results show that broom plants responded positively to the inoculation both in the greenhouse and field trials. The SSUT18 inoculated plants had significantly higher number and weight of nodules, greater sizes (biovolume) and biomass and also showed the highest N which, being not significant in our experimental conditions, it still contributed to more N per planted hectare than control plants, which could be important for the ecosystem maintenance in these N-poor soils. Positive effects of inoculation were also detected on the plant survival rate and water content. The bradyrhizobial inoculation, by accelerating the plant growth can shorten the greenhouse period and by producing more robust juvenile plants, they could help them to cope better with stresses in its natural habitat. Therefore, inoculation with selected rhizobia is a successful strategy to be integrated into conservation campaigns for this threatened legume species.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Rhizobial Strains Used In This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%