Frankia source affects growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation in Casuarina species

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 100; no. 1; pp. 115 - 122
• Main Authors: Reddell, P, Bowen, G.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Academic Press 01.01.1985; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Casuarina; Casuarina cunninghamiana; Casuarina equisetifolia; Crop harvesting; Forest soils; Frankia; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Inoculation; Inoculum; mycorrhizal fungi; N2 fixation; nitrogen fixation; Nodulation; Nodules; Parasitism and symbiosis; Plant physiology and development; Plant roots; Plants; Seedlings; Actinomycetales; Casuarinaceae; Growth; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Frankiaceae; Actinomycetes; Spermatophyta; Plant nodule; Frankia
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1985.tb02763.x

Two species of Casuarina [C. equisetifolia ssp. incana (Benth.) L.J. and C. cunninghamiana Miq.] differed in growth responses to inoculation with Frankia from five sources. Casuarina equisetifolia ssp. incana formed nodules with all five Frankia inocula whereas C. cunninghamiana formed nodules with only two. A range of response from ineffectiveness in N2fixation to high effectiveness was observed between Casuarina species-Frankia source combinations. Strains of Frankia highly effective on one species were frequently ineffective on the other. Effectiveness was related to nodule development after infection and to the ability of developed nodules to fix N2.