Population Genetics of Rhizobia: Construction and Analysis of an “Infection and Release” Model

Effects of plasmid curing on Rhizobium spp.

“…This symbiosis can relieve the requirements for added nitrogenous fertilizer during the growth of leguminous crops. The legume-rhizobium symbiosis and the corresponding physiological adaptations also provide a convenient model for studying the aspects of plant microbe interactions and evolution (1)(2).…”

An experimental and modelling exploration of the host-sanction hypothesis in legume–rhizobia mutualism

“…Since at this level it is not straightforward to perform experiments similar to those we conducted on plants, we studied the longterm dynamics using a population modelling approach. Few modelling attempts on legume-rhizobia mutualism have been made, and the available examples deal with spatial structure of rhizobia and evolution of nitrogen fixation (Bever and Simms, 2000), population genetics of rhizobia (Provorov and Vorobyov, 2000) and the stability of symbiosis mediated by kin selection and plant sanctions against cheating rhizobia (West et al, 2002 a,b). Here, based on our experimental approach and results, we analysed the ecological stability of Rhizobium-legume symbiosis when "cheating" strains are present, using a population dynamics model with and without the inclusion of plant host sanctions.…”

Adaptive and progressive evolution of plant-microbe symbiosis

“…Для описания эволюции БРС мы (Provorov, Vorobyov, 2000, 2008, 2010b представили ее как циклический (рекуррентный) процесс, каждый цикл которого включа-ет: 1) инокуляцию симбиотических (клубеньковых) ниш конкурирующими бактериальными генотипами; 2) коло-низацию бактериями симбиотических ниш (развитие бак-териального инокулюма in planta), которые формируют-ся растениями; 3) переход бактерий в почву, вызывающий дифференциальное отмирание различных генотипов. Для анализа эволюции симбиотической специфичности мы сформировали систему (рис.…”