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Characterization and infectivity of a spontaneous variant isolated fromFrankia sp. WEY 0131391

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Summary

A spontaneous variant, obtained from aFrankia isolate fromAlnus rubra nodules, was compared with the parent strain with regard to infectivity, nitrogenase activity, and electrophoretic and immunological profiles. Both the parent and the variant strain were equally effective in inducing nodulation in seedlings ofA. rubra. All inoculated plants had an active nitrogenase system as measured by the acetylene reduction assay. Electrophoresis of whole cell homogenates on SDS-polyacrylamide slab gels showed similar electrophoretic profiles; however, the variant strain also exhibited striking differences in protein patterns that distinguish it from the parent strain. Immunological analysis of the originalFrankia strain and its variant revealed shared antigens as well as immunologically distinct antigenic determinants in the two strains. The variant strain exhibits a distinct morphology and growth patterns which remain stable after many passages through culture.

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Author notes

  1. Willie L. Parson

    Present address: The Evergreen State College, 98505, Olympia, WA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Weyerhaeuser Technology Center, 98477, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Willie L. Parson, Linda R. Robertson & Carolyn V. Carpenter

Authors
  1. Willie L. Parson
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  2. Linda R. Robertson
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  3. Carolyn V. Carpenter
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Parson, W.L., Robertson, L.R. & Carpenter, C.V. Characterization and infectivity of a spontaneous variant isolated fromFrankia sp. WEY 0131391. Plant Soil 87, 31–42 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02277645

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