Summary
Model experiments were performed to investigate the nitrogen fixation (C2H2 reduction) and denitrification (N2O formation) capabilities ofAzospirillum spp. in association with wheat. Plants and bacteria were grown together for a week and then assayed for activities. This association performed C2H2 reduction or N2O formation, depending on the concentrations of nitrate and oxygen in the vessels. Both activities depended on theAzospirillum strains used. The newly isolatedAzospirillum amazonense strains Y1 and Y6 showed significant C2H2 reduction and low N2O formation in association with wheat under the conditions employed and are possibly useful in practice. A cell-free preparation fromAzospirillum brasilense Sp 7 possessed a cytochrome cd type dissimilatory nitrite reductase.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baldestone W L, Sherr B and Payne W J 1976 Blockage by acetylene of nitrous oxide reduction inPseudomonas perfectomarinus. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 31, 504–408.
Bothe H, Barbosa G and Döbereiner J 1983 Nitrogen fixation and nitrate respiration byAzospirillum brasilense Sp 7. Z. Naturforsch. 38c, 571–577.
Bothe H, Klein B, Stephan M P and Döbereiner J 1981 Transformations of inorganic nitrogen byAzospirillum spp. Arch. Microbiol. 130, 96–100.
Bothe H, Kronenberg A, Stephan M P, Zimmer W and Neuer G 1983 Nitrogen fixation and denitrification by a wheat-Azospirillum association.In Azospirillum II, Genetics Physiology, Ecology. Ed. W Klingmüller. Experientia Suppl. 48, 100–113.
Bryan B A 1981 Physiology and biochemistry of denitrification.In Denitrification, Nitrification and Atmospheric Nitrous Oxide. Ed. C C Delwiche. pp 63–84, Wiley, New York.
Döbereiner J 1983 Ten yearsAzospirillum.In Azospirillum II, Genetics, Physiology, Ecology. Ed. W Klingmüller. Experientia Suppl. 48, 9–23.
Döbereiner J and Day J M 1976 Nitrogen fixation in the rhizosphere of tropical grasses.In Fixation by Free-living Microorganisms. Ed. W D P Stewart. pp 39–56, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Jagnow G 1982 Growth and survival ofAzospirillum lipoferum in soil and rhizosphere as influenced by ecological stress conditions.In Azospirillum Genetics, Physiology, Ecology. Ed W Klingmüller. Experientia Suppl. 42, 100–107.
Lam Y and Nicholas D J D 1969 A nitrite reductase with cytochrome oxidase activity fromMicrococcus denitrificans Biochim. Biophys. Acta 180, 459–472.
Nelson L M and Knowles R 1978 Effect of oxygen and nitrate on nitrogen fixation and denitrification byAzospirillum brasilense grown in continuous culture. Can. J. Microbiol. 24, 1395–1403.
Newton N 1969 The two haem nitrite reductase ofMicrococcus denitrificans. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 185, 316–331.
Nur J, Okon Y and Henis Y 1982 Effect of dissolved oxygen tension on production of carotenoids, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, succinate oxidase and superoxide dismutase byAzospirillum brasilense Cd grown in continuous culture. J. Gen. Microbiol. 128, 2937–2943.
Okon Y 1984 Response of cereal and forage grasses to inoculation with N2-fixing bacteria.In Advances in Nitrogen Fixation Research. Eds C Veeger and W E Newton. pp 303–309, Nijhoff/Junk, Pudoc.
Pedrosa F O and Yates M G 1983 Nif mutants ofAzospirillum brasilense; Evidence for a Nif A type regulation.In Klingmüller W (ed)Azospirillum II, Genetics, Physiology, Ecology, Experientia Suppl. 48, 66–77.
Penteado Stephan M, Zimmer W and Bothe H 1984 Denitrification byAzospirillum. II. Growth with nitrous oxide as respiratory electron acceptor. Arch. Microbiol. 138, 212–216.
Smith R L, Schank S C, Milam J R and Baltensperger A A 1984 Response ofSorghum andPennisetum species to the N2-fixing bacteriumAzospirillum brasilense. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 47, 1331–1336.
Snyder S W and Hollocher T C 1984 Nitrous oxide reductase and the 120,000 MW copper protein of N2-producing denitrifying bacteria are different entities, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 119, 588–592.
Tibelius K H and Knowles R 1984 Uptake hydrogenase in denitrifyingAzospirillum brasilense grown anaerobically with nitrous oxide or nitrate. J. Bacteriol. 157, 84–88.
Yoshinari T and Knowles R 1976 Acetylene inhibition of nitrous oxide reduction by denitrifying bacteria. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 69, 705–710.
Zimmer W, Penteado Stephan M and Bothe H 1984 Denitrification byAzospirillum brasilense Sp 7. I. Growth with nitrite as respiratory electron acceptor. Arch. Microbiol. 138, 206–211.
Zumft W G and Matsubara T 1982 A novel kind of multi-copper protein as terminal oxidoreductase of nitrous oxide respiration inPseudomonas perfectomarinus. FEBS Letters 148, 107–112.
Zumft W G and Vega J M 1979 Reduction of nitrite to nitrous oxide by a cytoplasmic membrane fraction from the marine denitrifierPseudomonas perfectomarinus. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 548, 484–499.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Danneberg, G., Kronenberg, A., Neuer, G. et al. Aspects of nitrogen fixation and denitrification byAzospirillum . Plant Soil 90, 193–202 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02277396
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02277396