1. Soilborne
TOWARDS EXPANDING THE SOUTH AFRICAN RHIZOBIUM CULTURE COLLECTION (SARCC) AS A GENETIC RESOURCE AND ITS APPLICATION IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
AI Hassen , FL Bopape, K Mashau & DM Sibanyoni
Agricultural Research Council
Plant Protection Research Institute (ARC-PPRI)
Joint Forum Biodiversity Information Management & Foundational Information Program, August 2017, Salt Lake Beach Resort, Durban

2. Presentation Outline 2. Maintenance of the rhizobium culture
1. SARCC- Historical Background
2. Maintenance of the rhizobium culture
3. The SARCC database and prospects for improvement
4. Applications of the SARCC data (Biological Nitrogen Fixation)
5. Concluding summary and recommendations

3. 1. SARCC- Historical Background
1903, Nobbs, field trials with legumes at Ellensburg, Stellenbosch.
Did not result in significant research in Nitrogen -fixing systems in South Africa until the late 1950’s.
Establishment of Serradella (Ornithopus compressus) and the role of its nitrogen fixing rhizobial symbiont (Sim, 1958).
In 1959, Margareta Mes – Rhizobium - legume symbiosis (University of Pretoria, Univ. Stellenbosch).
1965, exploitation of the nodule bacterium legume symbiosis and nodulation status of indigenous legumes & legumes of economic importance in South Africa.

4. Historical Background cont..
Indigenous Trifolium spp. (T. africanum, T. burchellianum)
Rhizobium specificity confirmed among various African clover species; broad spectrum R. leguminosarum biov. trifolii
Studies on exotic Trifolium spp, early 1960’s (need to inoculate with R. leguminosarum biov. trifolii).
Populations of Sinorhizobium meliloti effective on lucerne (Medicago sativa) naturalized in most areas with suitable pH.
Also effective on annual medics Medicago truncata, M. littoralis
South African soils rich in indigenous Bradyrhizobium spp. that
nodulate Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) & Cowpea (V. unguiculata)

5. Historical Background cont..
Lack of B. japonicum strains effective on local soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivars (show specific B. japonicum requirement)
Since 1960s, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute started to expand research on the rhizobium-legume symbiosis in South Africa
Became the custodian of a wide range of rhizobium collections that led to the establishment of the SARC, now with the acronym SARCC
Several hundreds of rhizobia (>1500 strains) belonging to Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium & Mesorhizobium species.
Routinely maintained (viability, purity, identity).

6. 2. Maintenance of the Rhizobium collections
SARCC- an integral part of the SA legume industry.
Main source of legume rhizobium inoculant strains.
Significant economic and social benefits (commercial & subsistence).
Collection activities of the SARCC support research in Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF)
SARCC cultures obtained from various sources: field collections, international sources (overseas culture collections, universities, client deposits etc.).

7. Maintenance of the Rhizobium collectionsP y
Cultural characteristics, purity
Purity and preliminary ID
Growth M o l e c u a r
Viability and concentration
Species/Genus ID

8. Preservation of the cultures at SARCC
Agar plates/slants/cold rooms
Lyophilized (freeze dried)
-80 ultra freezer (frozen)

9. 3. The SARCC data base & prospects for improvement

10. World Federation of Culture Collections (WFCC)

11. SARCC- on the Global Catalogue of Microorganisms

12. SARCC- on the global catalogue of microorganisms

13. SARCC- Home page gcm.wfcc.info/cc/sarcc

14. 4. Applications of the SARCC strains - BNF
Schultze and Kondorosi, Ann Rev Gen;

15. Development of rhizobium inoculants (commercial strains)
TJ14
SR4
SAC2
Rhizobium rhizogenes 163C
UD5
Rhizobium tropici strain LNW10
Rhizobium tropici strain LNP6
XCR6
RAK1
Sinorhizobium meliloti QTX 8-2
Sinorhizobium meliloti Qtx-8-1
RF14
Rhizobium taeanense strain PSB 2-6
XAP2
Mesorhizobium amorphae
XEL1
Mesorhizobium sp. SOD33
Azospirillum brasilense REC3
Azospirillum brasilense strain 13-2C
Bradyrhizobium elkanii DASA35013
XHX1
WB74
Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110
Bradyrhizobium japonicum DASA38025
XHT1
XBQ5
Sinorhizobium fredii USDA 194
Mesorhizobium loti
Bradyrhizobium sp. USDA 4424
Bradyrhizobium sp. AP28 FN 89 68 98 72 58 56 54
100 90 79 99 60 94 91 81 78
0.1
SAC2
Trifolium sp
Hassen et al , unpublished

16. Nodulation of Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos)
SARCC-RB16h
Mesorhizobium amorphae CCBAU (EU )
SARCC-RB15b
SARCC-RB10g
SARCC-RB15i
SARCC-RB10a
SARCC-RB 16b
SARCC-RB15d
SARCC-RB19c
SARCC-RB15g
Mesorhizobium sp. SOD33 (EF )
SARCC-RB15a
SARCC-RB16f
SARCC-RB16i
SARCC-RB16p
SARCC-RB16l
SARCC-RB16n
Mesorhizobium amorphae SEMIA 848 (FJ )
SARCC-RB14g
SARCC-RB5e
Rhizobium sp. kmd 046
Rhizobium rhizogenes 163C
SARCC-RB1d
SARCC-RB8c
SARCC-RB17a
SARCC-RB17b
R.tropici strain LNW10
R.tropici LNP7
SARCC-RB1h
Rhizobium tropici sp CCBAU 25295
Rhizobium tropici sp LNP6
Bradyrhizobium japonicum sp DASA38025
Bradyrhizobium elkanii DASA35013
SARCC-RB10m
Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110
Azospirillum brasilense A154
SARCC-RB14h
SARCC-RB17c
SARCC-RB14i
Burkholderia sp. WSM4206 (HQ )
SARCC-RB1i
Burkholderia sp T132 GU
Burkholderia pyrrocinia sp.H5
SARCC-RB5f
SARCC-RB16g
SARCC-RB15c
SARCC-RB10c
SARCC-RB16k
Herbasprillum.seropedicae Z67
SARCC-RB10h
Herbasprillum lusitanum P6-12 99 69 96 93 85 89 95 77 94
0.02
α-rhizobia
β-rhizobia
Hassen et al Biol. Fert. Soils

17. 5. Concluding summary & recommendations
Culture collections with valuable biodiversity data must have a reliable and user-friendly system: in house data management system; home page; online catalogue. Help the collections to manage, disseminate and share the information related to their holdings.
Improves the scientific status of the collections; distributions & holdings; utilization of microbial resources & applications in research
Proper maintenance of national assets required to provide key services, sustainable crop production and crop protection (Safeguard food security). .

18. Thank You