Binding characteristics of n(2)-fixing bacteria to cereal roots.

The attachment of Rhizobium japonicum 61A89 and Rhizobium spp. 32H1 to the roots of wheat and rice seedlings is analyzed in terms of an equilibrium model. A Langmuir adsorption isotherm describes the binding. Strain 61A89 binds to a greater extent than does strain 32H1, and the equilibrium constants for each strain binding to wheat are strongly temperature dependent. Both time-dependent dissociation and association, predicted by an equilibrium model, have been found. The dissociation rate constant for 32H1 is approximately twice that of 61A89, and each is weakly temperature dependent. The rate equation for the binding of exponentially growing 61A89 to wheat roots has been solved as a function of time. Theory and experiment both indicate that the binding at very short times is much less than the equilibrium values. The binding of Azotobacter vinelandii 12837 to wheat roots has also been measured. Root-associated Azotobacter fixes nitrogen, whereas under aerobic growth conditions, root-associated 61A89 and 32H1 do not. The effect of metabolic inhibitors and antibiotics on the binding of Rhizobia and Azotobacter was examined.