Competition for nodule formation between effective and ineffective strains of Rhizobium meliloti

Ineffective mutants of four effective strains of Rhizobium meliloti were isolated and tested for their ability to compete with effective parents or antibiotic resistant mutants in the formation of nodules on Medicago sativa. In 5 out of the 6 cases studied, ineffective mutants were no different to effective strains of the same origin in their competitive ability. A difference in selection for infection by the host plant was observed between equally effective strains as well as between ineffective strains. Except for one pair of strains, the more-competitive effective strains (resistant or not to antibiotics) had the same origin as the more-competitive ineffective strains. For such strains the ability to compete with other strains to form nodules was a characteristic of each parent strain. Competitiveness was independent of effectiveness and had been retained during mutation.