Optimal control of root nodulation - Prediction of life history theory of a mutualistic system

JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY

卷:510

Article

Kobayashi, Ryota¹  Yamaguchi, Sachi²  Iwasa, Yoh¹ 

[1] Kwansei Gakuin Univ, Sch Sci & Technol, Dept Biosci, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda, Hyogo 6691337, Japan

[2] Tokyo Womans Christian Univ, Div Math Sci, Suginami Ku, 2-6-1 Zempukuji, Tokyo 1678585, Japan

关键词: Autoregulation of nodulation;    Nitrogen fixation;    Optimal allocation;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110544

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Legumes produce root nodules containing symbiotic rhizobial bacteria that convert atmospheric molecular nitrogen into ammonia or related nitrogenous compounds. The host plant supplies photosynthetic products to root nodules forming a mutualistic system. Legumes have physiological mechanisms for regulating nodule production with chemical signals produced in leaves, called the autoregulation of nodulation. In this paper, we discuss the optimal number of root nodules that maximizes the performance of the host plant. Here, we study two models. In the stationary plant model, the acquired photosynthetic products minus cost and loss are used for reproduction. In the growing plant model, the excess material is invested to produce leaves, roots, and root nodules, resulting in the exponential growth of the whole plant. The analysis shows that having root nodules is beneficial to the plant for a high leaf nitrogen content, faster plant growth rate, a short leaf longevity, a low root/shoot ratio, and low soil nutrient concentration. We discuss the long-distance control of nodulation-autoregulation and dependence on the environmental conditions of terrestrial plants considering these results. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

【 授权许可】

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