Abstract

The ability of wild indigenous legumes to form root nodules capable of biological nitrogen (N-2) fixation has rarely been demonstrated for species in natural ecosystems in large parts of Europe. In order to understand and manage these ecosystems, it is important to demonstrate nodulation across a diverse range of environments, sites and climates. This study surveyed nodulation at a number of sites in Scotland and Sweden. Presence of nodules was noted and nodule structure and indicators of nitrogen fixation capacity were assessed using light and transmission electron microscopy. Soils from several sites were also sampled for carbon and nitrogen analysis. The collections comprised 24 species in Scotland, and 30 taxa in Sweden; 17 of these in common for both countries. Highest species numbers occurred in meadows, farmland margins, hedgerows, roadsides and wasteland. Coastal sites and sites in the mountainous region above the Arctic Circle hosted several rare species. All sampled species had features of N-2-fixing nodules such as pink colour (leghaemoglobin) when dissected and bacteroids. Nodule structure for a number of species is here reported for the first time and presence of the N-2-fixing enzyme nitrogenase is demonstrated in three previously not studied Swedish legume species. North European legumes may make significant contributions to the N-budgets of their ecosystems. Such species (and their symbionts) represent unique germplasm that may be adopted to empower advances in agriculture and conservation aimed at mitigation and adaptation to the effects of climate change.

Keywords

Wild legumes; Nodulation; Nodule structure; Nitrogen fixation; Nitrogenase; Root nodule bacteria

Published in

Symbiosis
2012, Volume: 57, number: 3, pages: 133-148
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Ampomah, Osei Yaw

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Huss-Danell, Kerstin

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG13 Climate action
SDG15 Life on land


UKÄ Subject classification

Botany
Microbiology
Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-012-0188-9

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/42342