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. 1986 Nov;52(5):1074–1079. doi: 10.1128/aem.52.5.1074-1079.1986

Associative Nitrogen Fixation by Klebsiella spp.: Adhesion Sites and Inoculation Effects on Grass Roots

Kielo Haahtela 1, Tuula Laakso 1, Timo K Korhonen 1,*
PMCID: PMC239175  PMID: 16347205

Abstract

Adhesion sites on grass roots for Klebsiella strains carrying type 3 or type 1 fimbriae or both were determined. Adhesion of the strains to the roots of Poa pratensis and Festuca rubra was highly localized; the bacteria adhered strongly to root hairs and with a markedly lower efficiency to the surface of the zone of elongation and to the root cap mucilage. No adhesion to the epidermal cells between root hairs was observed. The adhesion sites were identical for the type 3- and 1-fimbriated bacteria and for P. pratensis, F. rubra, and Trifolium pratense. Inoculation of P. pratensis seedlings with Klebsiella pneumoniae strain As resulted in morphological changes in plant roots. The roots of infected plants were heavily covered with root hairs, which often were deformed and branched.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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