Coinoculation of symbiotic N2-fixing rhizobia and plant growth-promoting Bacillus on legume seeds can increase crop productivity. We collected highly resolved data on coinoculation of rhizobia and bacilli on 11 grain legume crops: chickpea, common bean, cowpea, faba bean, groundnut, lentil, mung bean, pea, pigeon pea, soybean, and urad bean to verify the magnitude of additive effects of coinoculation in relation to single inoculation of rhizobia on plant growth and yield of grain legumes. Coinoculation of rhizobia and bacilli on legume seeds and/or soil during sowing significantly increased nodulation, nitrogenase activity, plant N and P contents, and shoot and root biomass, as well as the grain yield of most grain legumes studied. There were however a few instances where coinoculation decreased plant growth parameters. Therefore, coinoculation of rhizobia and Bacillus has the potential to increase the growth and productivity of grain legumes, and can be recommended as an environmental-friendly agricultural practice for increased crop yields.

Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) is a legume indigenous to American countries currently cultivated in all continents, which is nodulated by different rhizobial species and symbiovars. Most of species able to nodulate this legume worldwide belong to the genus Rhizobium, followed by those belonging to the genera Ensifer (formerly Sinorhizobium) and Pararhizobium (formerly Rhizobium) and minority by species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. All these genera belong to the phylum alpha-Proteobacteria, but the nodulation of P. vulgaris has also been reported for some species belonging to Paraburkholderia and Cupriavidus from the beta-Proteobacteria. Several species nodulating P. vulgaris were originally isolated from nodules of this legume in American countries and are linked to the symbiovars phaseoli and tropici, which are currently present in other continents probably because they were spread in their soils together with the P. vulgaris seeds. In addition, this legume can be nodulated by species and symbiovars originally isolated from nodules of other legumes due its high promiscuity, a concept currently related with the ability of a legume to be nodulated by several symbiovars rather than by several species. In this article we review the species and symbiovars able to nodulate P. vulgaris in different countries and continents and the challenges on the study of the P. vulgaris endosymbionts diversity in those countries where they have not been studied yet, that will allow to select highly effective rhizobial strains in order to guarantee the success of P. vulgaris inoculation.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes, along with A. tumefaciens, has been used to affect genetic transformation in plants for many years. Detailed studies conducted in the past have uncovered the basic mechanism of foreign gene transfer and the implication of Ri/Ti plasmids in this process. A number of reviews exist describing the usage of binary vectors with A. tumefaciens, but no comprehensive account of the numerous binary vectors employed with A. rhizogenes and their successful applications has been published till date. In this review, we recollect a brief history of development of Ri-plasmid/Ri-T-DNA based binary vectors systems and their successful implementation with A. rhizogenes for different applications. The modification of native Ri plasmid to introduce foreign genes followed by development of binary vector using Ri plasmid and how it facilitated rapid and feasible genetic manipulation, earlier impossible with native Ri plasmid, have been discussed. An important milestone was the development of inducible plant expressing promoter systems which made expression of toxic genes in plant systems possible. The successful application of binary vectors in conjunction with A. rhizogenes in gene silencing and genome editing studies which are relatively newer developments, demonstrating the amenability and adaptability of hairy roots systems to make possible studying previously intractable research areas have been summarized in the present review.

Data from the literature and our own data on the participation and interrelation of bacterial signaling Nod-factors and components of the calcium, NADPH-oxidase, and NO-synthase signaling systems of a plant at the preinfection and infectious stages of the formation of a legume-rhizobium symbiosis are summarized in this review. The physiological role of Nod-factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium (Ca2+), NADPH-oxidase, nitric oxide (NO), and their cross influence on the processes determining the formation of symbiotic structures on the roots of the host plant is discussed.

The review summarizes the results of studies on the comigration of tubercular bacteria and bean plants to new habitats, which is often accompanied by a decrease in the symbiosis efficiency due to a loss of the diversity of genes responsible for the interaction. This migration may lead to a rise in new symbionts as a result of gene transfers from initial symbionts to local bacteria. It was demonstrated that typically new symbionts lack an ability for N2 fixation but are highly competitive, blocking the inoculation of bean cultures by industrial strains. The design of coadapted systems of recognition and signal interaction of partners is a perspective approach to ensure competitive advantages of efficient rhizobia strains introduced into agrocenoses, together with host plants, over inactive local strains.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes induced hairy root cultures are entering into a new juncture of functional research in generating pharmaceutical lead compounds by bringing about chemical transformations aided through its inherent enzyme resources. Rational utilization of hairy root cultures as highly effective biotransformation systems has come into existence in the last twenty years involving a wide range of plant systems as well as exogenous substrates and diverse chemical reactions. To date, hairy root cultures are preferred over plant cell/callus and suspension cultures as biocatalyst due to their genetic/biochemical stability, hormone-autotrophy, multi-enzyme biosynthetic potential mimicking that of the parent plants and relatively low-cost cultural requirements. The resultant biotransformed molecules, that are difficult to make by synthetic organic chemistry, can unearth notable practical efficacies by acquiring improved physico-chemical properties, bioavailability, lower toxicity and broader therapeutic properties. The present review summarizes the overall reported advances made in the area of hairy root mediated biotransformation of exogenous substrates with regard to their reaction types, plant systems associated, bacterial strains/molecules involved and final product recovery.

Published data on the role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) in the formation and functioning of the legume-rhizobial symbiosis are summarized. It is assumed that ROS and RNS fulfill a double function in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis by triggering the mechanisms enabling symbiosis formation and the mechanisms preventing the development of symbiotic structures (i.e., the defensive responses). A hypothetic scheme illustrating the involvement of ROS and RNS in the formation of legume-rhizobial symbiosis is proposed.

BACKGROUND: We report here two cases of Agrobacterium radiobacter bacteremia. These cases were observed at the same institution over a short time period (3 months).
METHODS: The first patient was a female cancer patient receiving third-line chemotherapy for ovarian carcinoma. When she developed bacteremia, she was neutropenic and had an indwelling catheter that was removed as part of the treatment. The second case was a geriatric patient admitted from home with bacteremia, clinical signs of septic shock, and concomitant acute cholecystitis.
RESULTS: Both patients responded promptly and completely to antibiotherapy. No recurrence was observed.

Taxonomy is the science that studies the relationships between organisms. It comprises classification, nomenclature, and identification. Modern bacterial taxonomy is polyphasic. This means that it is based on several molecular techniques, each one retrieving the information at different cellular levels (proteins, fatty acids, DNA...). The obtained results are combined and analysed to reach a \"consensus taxonomy\" of a microorganism. Until 1970, a small number of classification techniques were available for microbiologists (mainly phenotypic characterization was performed: a legume species nodulation ability for a Rhizobium, for example). With the development of techniques based on polymerase chain reaction for characterization, the bacterial taxonomy has undergone great changes. In particular, the classification of the legume nodulating bacteria has been repeatedly modified over the last 20 years. We present here a review of the currently used molecular techniques in bacterial characterization, with examples of application of these techniques for the study of the legume nodulating bacteria.

Pendimethalin\'s herbicidal action lies in its inhibition of the steps in plant cell division responsible for chromosome separation and cell wall formation. Terrestrial studies show that 10-20% of the herbicide evaporates during the first weeks after application. The remainder may dissipate biologically or chemically. Half-maximal dissipation time, or half-life (DT(50)) values vary from a few days to >200 days. Field and laboratory studies showed that reduced temperatures and drought prolong dissipation time to as long as 72-2094 days. In freshwater, pendimethalin concentrations reach 6 microg/L after runoff. In water the 10% lethal concentration (LC(10)) for Daphnia was 6 microg/L when exposed via suspended food. The LC(50) was 78 microg/L. An invertebrate field study showed that soil nematodes were reduced by 35-60% at pendimethalin application rates of 0.75 and 1.0 kg/ha, respectively. After application, soil microbiota is affected by pendimethalin for approximately 4 weeks. Plant-Rhizobium symbiosis is affected at application rates of 0.5-1.0 kg/ha.