Can We Use M. Truncatula R108-1 Line in Combination with Jemalong to Study the Plant-Microbe Interaction?

Abstract

M. truncatula is used in several laboratories as a model plant to study rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbiosis because it is well-suited for the genetic analysis of these processes (Cook et al. 1995). For example using gamma-ray mutagenesis (Sagan et al. 1995) or chemical mutagenesis (Penmetsa, Cook, 1997), several mutants altered in the establishment of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium meliloti have already been isolated. Genetic transformation has also been achieved in several laboratories. One of the interesting features of M. truncatula is the genetic diversity of the various ecotypes analysed so far. For example the ecotypes Jemalong and R108-1 are different for several traits. Rl08-1 shows higher embryogenic properties than Jemalong and can be efficiently nodulated by R. meliloti strain 41 (Hoffman et al. 1997), which is Fix⁻ with Jemalong and the pattern of coloration of the leaves of the two ecotypes are different. For these reasons we are interested to use the R108-1 line in combination with Jemalong to study the genetics of the symbiotic interaction.