Glycyrrhiza uralensis Nodules: Histological and Ultrastructural Organization and Tubulin Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Chinese liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC.) is widely used in the food industry and as a medicine. Like other legumes, G. forms symbiotic nodules. However, structural organization of nodules poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed histological ultrastructural dynamics tubulin cytoskeleton various cells from different zones indeterminate formed by two strains Mesorhizobium sp. The unusual walls infection threads formation multiple symbiosomes with several swollen bacteroids were observed. A large amount poly-?-hydroxybutyrate accumulated bacteroids, while vacuoles meristematic uninfected contained drop-shaped osmiophilic inclusions. Immunolocalization quantitative analysis cytoskeletal elements revealed patterns cortical microtubules meristematic, infected cells, endoplasmic associated structures, typical intermediate pattern was correlated disordered arrangement symbiosomes. Thus, some ancestral features more characteristic determinate nodules, demonstrating evolutionary closeness nodulation to ancient members legume family.