Evolution of diverse symbiotic phenotypes among native soil bacteria following spread of a genomic island from a rhizobial inoculant

豆类蛋白质的品质依赖于根瘤细菌的共生固氮作用。澳大利亚农业的可持续豆类生产依赖于用这些细菌的有效菌株接种豆类。不幸的是，接种菌株将DNA转移到其他土壤细菌，导致土壤中的RNB种群竞争结瘤，但在固氮方面效果较差。这种DNA转移威胁到澳大利亚农业领域价值20亿美元的资产。我们将利用分子微生物生态学来研究共生DNA在RNB中的遗传转移机制，并利用这一知识来预防它。

The quality of legume protein depends on symbiotic nitrogen fixation by root nodule bacteria (RNB). Sustainable legume production in Australian agriculture depends on legume inoculation with effective strains of these bacteria. Unfortunately inoculant strains transfer DNA to other soil bacteria resulting in soil populations of RNB that compete for nodulation but are less effective in nitrogen fixation. This transfer of DNA threatens a $2 billion asset in Australian agriculture. We will use molecular microbial ecology to investigate the mechanisms of genetic transfer of symbiotic DNA in RNB, and use this knowledge to prevent it.