Polysaccharide Fractions and Transformations in Rhizobium

Abstract

OUR interest in the composition of rhizobial gums^1,2 led of to attempt transformations using, first a preparation based on that of Ljunggren³ and later the cruder, and therefore deoxyribonucleic acid-rich, fraction used by Lange and Alexander⁴. In the first case we aimed at restoring virulence to avirulent strains of clover Rhizobia, including two used by Ljunggren, but with R. trifolii, SU297/31 as the source of ‘polysaccharide’. In the second we attempted a wider transformation, similar to those reported by Lange and Alexander, between clover and lucerne. In the latter we included a specially prepared deoxyribonucleic acid fraction as an additional treatment.