| Description | Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 is a gram-negative, rod-shaped microbe that thrives in mesophilic temperatures, categorized as a chemoheterotroph, and can be found in the root nodules of various legume species, including Lotus corniculatus, across all body sites. As a gram-negative bacterium, it has a thinner peptidoglycan layer in its cell wall, which is often associated with a higher degree of pathogenicity, although M. loti MAFF303099 is generally considered a symbiotic organism. Its rod shape allows for efficient movement and colonization of its host plant's roots. As a mesophile, it grows best in moderate temperatures, typically between 20-30°C, which is ideal for its symbiotic relationship with legumes. As a chemoheterotroph, it relies on external sources of organic compounds for energy and carbon, which it obtains from its host plant. M. loti MAFF303099 is a microaerophile, requiring low oxygen levels to survive, which is consistent with its habitat in the root nodules of legumes where oxygen levels are limited. This microbe plays a crucial role in nitrogen fixation, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by its host plant, and has been found to have a wide host range, including species such as Lotus, Leucaena, and Robinia. The symbiotic relationship between M. loti MAFF303099 and its host plants has led to its use as a model organism in studies of plant-microbe interactions, and its genome has been fully sequenced, revealing a complex repertoire of genes involved in symbiosis and nitrogen fixation, and its ability to form effective nodules on a wide range of legume species has made it a valuable tool for improving crop yields and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. |
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