Root exudation of sorghum and utilization of exudates by nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Qualitative differences in the soluble exudates of seedlings of different sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genotypes were demonstrated by variation in growth of diazotrophic bacteria in exudate-containing media. Isolates varied in their ability to utilize the exudate from a given genotype. Variation in the amounts of soluble carbon exuded by axenically grown seedlings of the different genotypes was also observed. However, the variation in plant-associated acetylene reduction activity of one strain, Azospirillum lipoferum 4ABL, did not reflect the variation in exudation of soluble organic carbon, nor the variation in ability of the isolate to utilize the exudates in semi-solid media.