TOWARDS EXPANDING THE SOUTH AFRICAN

RHIZOBIUM CULTURE COLLECTION (SARCC) AS A

GENETIC RESOURCE AND ITS APPLICATION IN

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

AI Hassen , FL Bopape, K Mashau & DM Sibanyoni Agricultural Research Council Plant Protection Research Institute (ARC-PPRI)

Email: hassena@arc.agric.za

Joint Forum Biodiversity Information Management & Foundational Information Program, 14 -17 August 2017, Salt Lake Beach Resort, Durban

1. SARCC- Historical Background

2. Maintenance of the rhizobium culture

3. The SARCC database and prospects for improvement

4. Applications of the SARCC data (Biological Nitrogen Fixation)

5. Concluding summary and recommendations

1903, Nobbs, field trials with legumes at Ellensburg, Stellenbosch.

Did not result in significant research in Nitrogen -fixing systems in

South Africa until the late 1950’s.

Establishment of Serradella (Ornithopus compressus) and the role

of its nitrogen fixing rhizobial symbiont (Sim, 1958).

In 1959, Margareta Mes – Rhizobium - legume symbiosis (University

of Pretoria, Univ. Stellenbosch).

1965, exploitation of the nodule bacterium legume symbiosis and

nodulation status of indigenous legumes & legumes of economic

importance in South Africa.

Indigenous Trifolium spp. (T. africanum, T. burchellianum)

Rhizobium specificity confirmed among various African clover

species; broad spectrum R. leguminosarum biov. trifolii

Studies on exotic Trifolium spp, early 1960’s (need to inoculate with

R. leguminosarum biov. trifolii).

Populations of Sinorhizobium meliloti effective on lucerne (Medicago

sativa) naturalized in most areas with suitable pH.

Also effective on annual medics Medicago truncata, M. littoralis

South African soils rich in indigenous Bradyrhizobium spp. that

nodulate Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) & Cowpea (V. unguiculata)

Lack of B. japonicum strains effective on local soybean (Glycine max

L.) cultivars (show specific B. japonicum requirement)

Since 1960s, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute started to

expand research on the rhizobium-legume symbiosis in South Africa

Became the custodian of a wide range of rhizobium collections that

led to the establishment of the SARC, now with the acronym SARCC

Several hundreds of rhizobia (>1500 strains) belonging to Rhizobium,

Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium & Mesorhizobium species.

Routinely maintained (viability, purity, identity).

SARCC- an integral part of the SA legume industry.

Main source of legume rhizobium inoculant strains.

Significant economic and social benefits (commercial & subsistence).

Collection activities of the SARCC support research in Biological

Nitrogen Fixation (BNF)

SARCC cultures obtained from various sources: field collections,

international sources (overseas culture collections, universities, client

deposits etc.).

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r Viability and concentration

Purity and preliminary ID Cultural characteristics, purity

Species/Genus ID

Agar plates/slants/cold rooms

-80 ultra freezer (frozen)

Lyophilized (freeze dried)

Schultze and Kondorosi, 1998. Ann Rev Gen; www.cilr.uq.edu.au

TJ14

SR4

SAC2

Rhizobium rhizogenes 163C

UD5

Rhizobium tropici strain LNW10

Rhizobium tropici strain LNP6

XCR6

RAK1

Sinorhizobium meliloti QTX 8-2

Sinorhizobium meliloti Qtx-8-1

RF14

Rhizobium taeanense strain PSB 2-6

XAP2

Mesorhizobium amorphae

XEL1

Mesorhizobium sp. SOD33

Azospirillum brasilense REC3

Azospirillum brasilense strain 13-2C

Bradyrhizobium elkanii DASA35013

XHX1

WB74

Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110

Bradyrhizobium japonicum DASA38025

XHT1

XBQ5

Sinorhizobium fredii USDA 194

Mesorhizobium loti

Bradyrhizobium sp. USDA 4424

Bradyrhizobium sp. AP28 FN566882.1 89

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SAC2

Trifolium sp

Hassen et al. 2015 , unpublished

SARCC-RB16h Mesorhizobium amorphae CCBAU 85061 (EU256436.1)

SARCC-RB15b SARCC-RB10g SARCC-RB15i SARCC-RB10a SARCC-RB 16b SARCC-RB15d SARCC-RB19c SARCC-RB15g Mesorhizobium sp. SOD33 (EF125932.1) SARCC-RB15a SARCC-RB16f SARCC-RB16i SARCC-RB16p SARCC-RB16l SARCC-RB16n Mesorhizobium amorphae SEMIA 848 (FJ025122.1)

SARCC-RB14g SARCC-RB5e Rhizobium sp. kmd 046

Rhizobium rhizogenes 163C SARCC-RB1d SARCC-RB8c SARCC-RB17a SARCC-RB17b R.tropici strain LNW10 R.tropici LNP7 SARCC-RB1h Rhizobium tropici sp CCBAU 25295 Rhizobium tropici sp LNP6

Bradyrhizobium japonicum sp DASA38025 Bradyrhizobium elkanii DASA35013 SARCC-RB10m Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110

Azospirillum brasilense A154 SARCC-RB14h SARCC-RB17c

SARCC-RB14i Burkholderia sp. WSM4206 (HQ698907.1) SARCC-RB1i Burkholderia sp T132 GU191167.1 Burkholderia pyrrocinia sp.H5 SARCC-RB5f SARCC-RB16g SARCC-RB15c SARCC-RB10c

SARCC-RB16k Herbasprillum.seropedicae Z67 SARCC-RB10h Herbasprillum lusitanum P6-12

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77

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0.02

α-rhizobia

β-rhizobia

Hassen et al. 2012 Biol. Fert. Soils

Culture collections with valuable biodiversity data must have a

reliable and user-friendly system: in house data management

system; home page; online catalogue. Help the collections to

manage, disseminate and share the information related to their

holdings.

Improves the scientific status of the collections; distributions &

holdings; utilization of microbial resources & applications in

research

Proper maintenance of national assets required to provide key

services, sustainable crop production and crop protection

(Safeguard food security).

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Thank You