Molecular cloning and characterization of nodD genes from Rhizobium sp. SIN-1, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Sesbania and other tropical legumes.

Rhizobium sp. SIN-1, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Sesbania aculeata and other tropical legumes, carries two copies of nodD, both on a sym plasmid. We have isolated these two nodD genes by screening a genomic library of Rhizobium sp. SIN-1 with a nodD probe from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the nodD genes of Rhizobium sp. SIN-1 are most closely related to those of R. tropici and Azorhziobium caulinodans. Rhizobium sp. SIN-1 nodD1 complemented a S. meliloti nodD1 D2 D3 negative mutant for nodulation on alfalfa, but failed to complement a nodD1 mutant of S. fredii USDA191 for soybean nodulation. A hybrid nodD gene, containing the N-terminus of S. fredii USDA191 nodD1 and the C-terminus of Rhizobium sp. SIN-1 nodD1, complemented the nodD1 negative mutant of USDA191 for nodulation on soybean.