The requirement for exopolysaccharide precedes the requirement for flavolan-binding polysaccharide in nodulation of Leucaena leucocephala by Rhizobium loti.

Rhizobium loti strain PN4115 (NZP2213 str-1) ineffectively nodulates Leucaena leucocephala, i.e., strain PN4115 induces nodulation (Nod+) and is able to invade these nodules (Inv+), but fails to fix nitrogen (Fix-). Strain PN4115 does not synthesize a flavolan-binding polysaccharide (FBP), which is synthesized by the fully effective (Nod+Inv+Fix+) R. loti strain PN184 (NZP2037 str-1). The FBP may offer protection from prodelphinidin-rich flavolans synthesized by Lc. leucocephala. In this work, we show that exopolysaccharide (EPS)-negative mutants derived from strain PN4115 have a more severe ineffective phenotype (Nod+Inv-Fix-) on Lc. leucocephala than strain PN4115. This suggests that EPS from strain PN4115 is functional during invasion of Lc. leucocephala and that the requirement for EPS precedes the requirement for FBP.