For the first time in the world, researchers led by the Director of the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology A.V. Tsyganova studied the structure of symbiotic nodules of Vavilovia formosa

For the first time, researchers led by A.V. Tsyganova, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, studied the structure of symbiotic nodules of Vavilovia formosa, a relict plant listed in the Rare and Endangered Species of Russia. The structure of nodules formed by inoculating plants with various rhizobia strains was studied. For inoculation, four strains were used: the TOM strain, capable of forming nodules on ‘Afghan’ peas, the commercial RCAM1026 strain, and two previously isolated strains (Vaf-12 and Vaf-108) from vavilovia nodules. As a result, it was shown that the histological and ultrastructural organization of nodules, typical of indeterminate pea nodules, was formed only after inoculation with the Vaf-12 strain. Inoculation with other strains revealed various abnormalities and peculiarities in the nodule structure. Indeed, exocytosis of abnormal bacteroids into the vacuole of infected cells in nodules induced by the TOM strain was revealed. This study identifies a direction for further research, which is undoubtedly directly related to the evolution of garden pea and the establishment of the evolutionary position of vavilovia, as V. formosa represents a unique model for studying the evolution of symbiosis in the Fabeae tribe, as it is the putative closest relative of the common ancestor of this tribe. This study should also contribute to the study of the evolution of the formation of genospecies comprising the Rhizobium leguminosarum complex, which is of great importance in agricultural production.

This research was supported by RSF 23-16-00090.

Tsyganova AV, Gorshkov AP, Kimeklis AK, Onishchuk OP, Vorobiev MG, Andronov EE, Tsyganov VE. Morphology of Vavilovia formosa (Steven) Fed. Nodules Induced by Different Rhizobia Strains. Plants. 2025; 14(24):3764. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243764

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/24/3764