New Lupinus/endosymbiotic bacteria systems adapted to calcareous soils: studies for their conservation (LUPICAL)

Tomás Ruiz Argüeso, Juan Imperial Ródenas, Luis Rey Navarro, Carmen Sánchez Cañizares, Esperanza Martínez Romero, Ernesto Aldo Ormeño Orrillo, Abdelkader Aïnouche.

Lmj has the singular attribute of being able to grow in chalky soils as against the acid soils required by all other Old World species of Lupinus. Preliminary tests have revealed that Lmj is nodulated by specific rhizobia. We will attempt to arrive at a detailed characterization of these rhizobia by establishing their physiological properties, the profile of compatible host legumes, and their taxonomic position, using phylogenetic analyses based on housekeeping and symbiotic genes. This molecular characterization will also include the sequencing and annotation of a strain selected for its symbiotic effectiveness with Lmj. Dr. Aïnouche from the University of Rennes (France) will collaborate in the task of characterizing the Lmj plant. Its surprising ability to grow in chalky-alkaline soils makes Lmj a model for exploring similar species in chalky-alkaline soils all over the world. A second goal of the project is accordingly to investigate the conduct of Lmj and its endosymbiotic bacteria in Mexican calcareous soils, in collaboration with Dr. Martínez-Romero from the UNAM-Cuernavaca (Mexico).