Identification of rhizobial strains nodulating Egyptian grain legumes

Authors

  • Hamdi H. Zahran Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef.
  • Rajaa Chahboune Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Experimental Station of the Zaidin, National Research Council (EEZ-CSIC), Granada.
  • Silvia Moreno Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Experimental Station of the Zaidin, National Research Council (EEZ-CSIC), Granada.
  • Eulogio J. Bedmar Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Experimental Station of the Zaidin, National Research Council (EEZ-CSIC), Granada.
  • Medhat Abdel-Fattah Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef.
  • Manal M. Yasser Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef.
  • Ahmed M. Mahmoud Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef.

Keywords:

Physconia spp., apothecia, sexual reproduction, germination, ontogenetic development, mixed species

Abstract

The presence of apothecia in mixed species (vegetatively reproducing lichens, occasionally producing ascomata) has been interpreted as a mechanism to increase genetic variability in mostly clonal populations. However, spore viability from these apothecia has not been studied. We asked whether ascospores of the mixed species Physconia grisea are viable and thereby contribute to increasing the genetic diversity within populations of this species. An ontogenetic study of spores in cultures of P. grisea and a related sexual species (P. distorta), showed that although mature apothecia from both species produced and discharged meiospores capable of germination, spores from P. grisea were only rarely (0.43 %) able to continue development whereas those from P. distorta germinated and developed successfully. The strongly reduced viability of P. grisea spores suggested that they do not have a strong reproductive function, at least in the two local populations analyzed. Additionally, we show that the segregation of Physconia grisea ssp. lilacina does not have molecular support. [Int Microbiol 2013; 16(3):145-
155]

Keywords: Physconia spp. · apothecia · sexual reproduction · germination · ontogenetic development · mixed species

Author Biography

Hamdi H. Zahran, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Beni-Suef, Beni-Suef.



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