Ultrastructure of the Alnus crispa var. mollis Fern. root nodule endophyte.

Nitrogen-fixing, field-obtained root nodules of the silky green alder were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The nodule endophyte exhibited a prokaryotic cytology and was present in two forms: the hypha(0.3-1.0mum), which was branched and septate, and the vesicle (3-5mum), which was also septate and developed at the parental hypha tip. Bacteria-like cells, previously observed in light microscopy studies, were not seen in the present work. The actinomycete-like endophyte penetrated through the host cell wall and becane enveloped by a capsular material (0.1mum), the whole being enclosed by host membranes. In some host cells, the endophyte appeared to lyse and become a mass of shrunken debris. The fine structure of the Alnus crispa var. mollis root nodule endophyte was found to be similar to that of other nonleguminous root nodule endophytes.