Soybean yield, biological N2 fixation and seed composition responses to additional inoculation in the United States

It is unclear if additional inoculation with Bradyrhizobia at varying soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth stages can impact biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), increase yield and improve seed composition [protein, oil, and amino acid (AA) concentrations]. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different soybean inoculation strategies (seed coating and additional soil inoculation at V4 or R1) on: (i) seed yield, (ii) seed composition, and (iii) BNF traits [nodule number and relative abundance of ureides (RAU)]. Soybean field trials were conducted in 11 environments (four states of the US) to evaluate four treatments: (i) control without inoculation, (ii) seed inoculation, (iii) seed inoculation + soil inoculation at V4, and (iv) seed inoculation + soil inoculation at R1. Results demonstrated no effect of seed or additional soil inoculation at V4 or R1 on either soybean seed yield or composition. Also, inoculation strategies produced similar values to the non-inoculated control in terms of nodule number and RAU, a reflection of BNF. Therefore, we conclude that in soils with previous history of soybean and under non-severe stress conditions (e.g. high early-season temperature and/or saturated soils), there is no benefit to implementing additional inoculation on soybean yield and seed composition.Fil: Carciochi, Walter Daniel. Kansas State University; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Moro Rosso, Luiz H.. Kansas State University; Estados UnidosFil: Secchi, Mario Alberto. Kansas State University; Estados UnidosFil: Torres, Adalgisa R.. Kansas State University; Estados UnidosFil: Naeve, Seth. University of Minnesota; Estados UnidosFil: Casteel, Shaun N.. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Kovács, Péter. University of South Dakota; Estados UnidosFil: Davidson, Dan. Illinois Soybean Association; Estados UnidosFil: Purcell, Larry C.. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Archontoulis, Sotirios. University of Iowa; Estados UnidosFil: Ciampitti, Ignacio A.. Kansas State University; Estados Unido

Hydrogen-uptake genes improve symbiotic efficiency in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

10 Pág.Hydrogen-uptake (Hup) activity is implicated in the mitigation of energy losses associated with the biological nitrogen fixation process, and has been related to productivity increases in some legume hosts. However, in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) the expression of hydrogenase is rare. In this study an 18-kb hup gene cluster from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae encoding a NiFe hydrogenase was successfully transferred to three common bean rhizobial strains lacking hydrogenase activity (Hup-) but symbiotically very effective and used in commercial inoculants in Brazil: one strain originally from Colombia (Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899), and two strains from Brazil (R. tropici H 12 and Rhizobium freirei PRF 81). The inclusion of NiCl2 in the nutrient solution did not increase hydrogenase activity, indicating that common bean plants allow efficient nickel provision for hydrogenase synthesis in the bacteroids. The symbiotic performance-evaluated by nodulation, plant growth, N accumulation and seed production-of wild-type and Hup+ derivative strains was compared in experiments performed with cultivar Carioca under greenhouse conditions, in sterile substrate and in non-sterile soil. Statistically significant increases in one or more parameters were observed for all three Hup+ derivatives when compared to the respective wild-type strain. Differences were found mainly with the Brazilian strains, reaching impressive increases in nodule efficiency and seed total N content. The results highlight the potential of using Rhizobium Hup+ strains for the design of more energy-efficient inoculants for the common bean crop.The study was supported by Comunidad de Madrid research project P-AMB-321-0505 (to T.R.A) and by UPM (Convocatoria Proyectos con América Latina, to B.B.). Today the Brazilian group is funded by the INCT-Plant-Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility (CNPq 465133/2014-2, Fundação Araucária-STI, CAPES).Peer reviewe

Soybean Yield, Biological N2 Fixation and Seed Composition Responses to Additional Inoculation in the United States

It is unclear if additional inoculation with Bradyrhizobia at varying soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth stages can impact biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), increase yield and improve seed composition [protein, oil, and amino acid (AA) concentrations]. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different soybean inoculation strategies (seed coating and additional soil inoculation at V4 or R1) on: (i) seed yield, (ii) seed composition, and (iii) BNF traits [nodule number and relative abundance of ureides (RAU)]. Soybean field trials were conducted in 11 environments (four states of the US) to evaluate four treatments: (i) control without inoculation, (ii) seed inoculation, (iii) seed inoculation + soil inoculation at V4, and (iv) seed inoculation + soil inoculation at R1. Results demonstrated no effect of seed or additional soil inoculation at V4 or R1 on either soybean seed yield or composition. Also, inoculation strategies produced similar values to the non-inoculated control in terms of nodule number and RAU, a reflection of BNF. Therefore, we conclude that in soils with previous history of soybean and under non-severe stress conditions (e.g. high early-season temperature and/or saturated soils), there is no benefit to implementing additional inoculation on soybean yield and seed composition

A simple, economical and reproducible protein extraction protocol for proteomics studies of soybean roots

Sample preparation is a critical step in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) of plant tissues. Here we describe a phenol/SDS procedure that, although greatly simplified, produced well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE profiles of protein extracts from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] roots. Extractions were made in three replicates using both the original and simplified procedure. To evaluate the quality of the extracted proteins, ten spots were randomly selected and identified by mass spectrometry (MS). The 2-DE gels were equally well resolved, with no streaks or smears, and no significant differences were observed in protein yield, reproducibility, resolution or number of spots. Mass spectra of the ten selected spots were compared with database entries and allowed high-quality identification of proteins. The simplified protocol described here presents considerable savings of time and reagents without compromising the quality of 2-DE protein profiles and compatibility with MS analysis, and may facilitate the progress of proteomics studies of legume-rhizobia interactions

The effective population size of malaria mosquitoes: large impact of vector control.

Malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa have proven themselves very difficult adversaries in the global struggle against malaria. Decades of anti-vector interventions have yielded mixed results--with successful reductions in transmission in some areas and limited impacts in others. These varying successes can be ascribed to a lack of universally effective vector control tools, as well as the development of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations. Understanding the impact of vector control on mosquito populations is crucial for planning new interventions and evaluating existing ones. However, estimates of population size changes in response to control efforts are often inaccurate because of limitations and biases in collection methods. Attempts to evaluate the impact of vector control on mosquito effective population size (N(e)) have produced inconclusive results thus far. Therefore, we obtained data for 13-15 microsatellite markers for more than 1,500 mosquitoes representing multiple time points for seven populations of three important vector species--Anopheles gambiae, An. melas, and An. moucheti--in Equatorial Guinea. These populations were exposed to indoor residual spraying or long-lasting insecticidal nets in recent years. For comparison, we also analyzed data from two populations that have no history of organized vector control. We used Approximate Bayesian Computation to reconstruct their demographic history, allowing us to evaluate the impact of these interventions on the effective population size. In six of the seven study populations, vector control had a dramatic impact on the effective population size, reducing N(e) between 55%-87%, the exception being a single An. melas population. In contrast, the two negative control populations did not experience a reduction in effective population size. This study is the first to conclusively link anti-vector intervention programs in Africa to sharply reduced effective population sizes of malaria vectors