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Learning from diversity : comparing nodulation in Medicago truncatula to that in the non-legume Parasponia andersonii
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Wilkinson, Helen (2023) Learning from diversity : comparing nodulation in Medicago truncatula to that in the non-legume Parasponia andersonii. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3929689
Abstract
Legumes and one of the five species of non-legumes, Parasponia andersonii, are capable of having symbiotic relationships with nitrogen fixing rhizobia. This allows them to have a nitrogen source even if the surrounding environment lacks nitrogen. This led to the investigation of how nodulation in P. andersonii differs in its phenotypes in nodulation compared to M. truncatula and what the difference are at a molecular level. Being able to compare and contrast the nodulation regulatory machinery of P. andersonii and M. truncatula at the cell type level could help to better elucidate how nodulation might be conserved across plant species.
P. andersonii has been found to have a broad range of symbiotic partners, how much of an advantage this relative rhizobial promiscuity gives P. andersonii is currently unknown. Therefore, the phenotypic responses and form and regulation of nodulation of P. andersonii and M. truncatula to different rhizobial strains/species were analysed. M. truncatula was found to have a productive symbiotic relationship with Sinorhizobium medicae (WSM419) and Sinorhizobium meliloti (WSM1022) whilst P. andersonii had a productive symbiotic relationship with Bradyrhizobium elkanii (WUR3). P. andersonii was also found to have nodules form with Mesorhizobium plurifarium (BOR2), yet there was no increase in shoot or root fresh weight.
This led to trying to understand the underlying molecular differences between the WUR3 and BOR2 phenotype. Using microscopy and RNA-Seq analysis led to the conclusion that P. andersonii is capable of sanctioning rhizobia through rhizobial degradation and nodule senescence.
Due to orthologs of key nodulation regulatory M. truncatula genes that have been identified in P. andersonii and their role seems to be conserved. Progress towards generating stable cell type fluorescent lines of M. truncatula and P. andersonii has been made which will allow for further research into nodulation pathway signalling in the different root tissue types.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > QK Botany Q Science > QR Microbiology |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, Legumes -- Roots -- Physiology, Rhizobium, Root-tubercles, Medicago, Plant-microbe relationships | ||||
Official Date: | February 2023 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | School of Life Sciences | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Gifford, Miriam L. | ||||
Sponsors: | Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership ; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | xiv, 128 pages : illustrations (some colour) | ||||
Language: | eng |
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