Abstract
The gas diffusion pathway in nodules was traced by vacuum infiltration with India ink or aniline blue and by electron microscopy. India ink infiltration was observed in the outermost and the innermost cortex in sliced nodules, but not in intact nodules. With aniline blue infiltration, it was observed that intercellular air spaces in the outermost and the innermost cortex were connected to those in nodule roots. No air spaces were in contact with walls of infected cells, although intercellular air spaces existed in some groups of uninfected cells within the infected zone. Infiltration with either India ink or aniline blue could not be observed in the infected zone in essentially all cases. Thus it is suggested that the discontinuity of the intercellular air spaces represents a major resistance to O2 diffusion in nodules ofCasuarina cunninghamiana.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Appleby C A 1984 Leghemoglobin andRhizobium respiration. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 35, 443–478.
Berg R H 1983 Preliminary evidence for the involvement of suberization in infection of Casuarina. Can. J. Bot. 61, 2910–2918.
Berg R H and McDowell L 1987 Endophyte differentiation inCasuarina actinorhizae. Protoplasma 136, 104–117.
Murry M A, Zhang Z and Torrey J G 1985 Effect of O2 on vesicle formation, acetylene reduction and O2 uptake kinetics inFrankia sp HFPCcI3 isolated fromCasuarina cunninghamiana. Can. J. Microbiol. 31, 804–809.
Parsons R, Silvester W B, Harris S, Cruijters W T M and Bullivant S 1987Frankia vesicles provide inducible and absolute O2 protection for nitrogenase. Plant Physiol. 83, 728–731.
Sheehy J E 1987 Photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in legume plants. CRC Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 5, 121–159.
Tjepkema J D 1979 Oxygen regulation in leguminous and actinorhizal nodules.In Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in the Management of Temperate Forests. Eds. J C Gordon, C T Wheeler and D A Perry. pp 175–186. Corvallis, Oregon State Univ., USA.
Tjepkema J D 1983a Hemoglobins in the nitrogen-fixing root nodules of actinorhizal plants. Can. J. Bot. 61, 2924–2929.
Tjepkema J D 1983b Oxygen concentration within the nitrogenfixing root nodules ofMyrica gale L. Am. J. Bot. 70, 59–63.
Tjepkema J D 1988 Oxygen regulation and energy usage in actinorhizal plants.In Biological Nitrogen Fixation: Recent Developments. Ed. N S Subba Rao. pp 311–333. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
Tjepkema J D and Asa D J 1987 Total and CO-reactive heme content of actinorhizal nodules and the roots of some non-nodulated plants. Plant and Soil 100, 225–236.
Tyson J H and Silver W S 1979 Relationship of ultrastructure to acetylene reduction (N2 fixation) in root nodules ofCasuarina cunninghamiana. Bot. Gaz. 140 (suppl.), S44-S48.
Weisz P R and Sinclair T J 1987 Regulation of soybean nitrogen fixation in response to rhizosphere oxygen. II. Quantification of nodule gas permeability. Plant Physiol. 84, 906–910.
Wheeler C T, Gordon J C and Ching T M 1979 Oxygen relation of root nodules ofAlnus rubra Bong. New Phytol. 82, 449–457.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeng, S., Tjepkema, J.D. & Berg, R.H. Gas diffusion pathway in nodules ofCasuarina cunninghamiana . Plant Soil 118, 119–123 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232796
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232796