Nitrogen fixation

Effector

Bacteria

Biology

Gene

Root nodule

Rhizobia

Bradyrhizobium

Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Rhizobiaceae

Botany

Cell biology

Symbiosis

Root hair

Genetics

Nature Plants

Symbiosis between soybean (Glycine max) and rhizobia is essential for efficient nitrogen fixation. Rhizobial effectors secreted through the type-III secretion system are key for mediating the interactions between plants and rhizobia, but the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, our genome-wide association study for nodule number identified G. max Nodule Number Locus 1 (GmNNL1), which encodes a new R protein. GmNNL1 directly interacts with the nodulation outer protein P (NopP) effector from Bradyrhizobium USDA110 to trigger immunity and inhibit nodulation through root hair infection. The insertion of a 179 bp short interspersed nuclear element (SINE)-like transposon into GmNNL1 leads to the loss of function of GmNNL1, enabling bradyrhizobia to successfully nodulate soybeans through the root hair infection route and enhancing nitrogen fixation. Our findings provide important insights into the coevolution of soybean–bradyrhizobia compatibility and offer a way to design new legume–rhizobia interactions for efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Soybean accessions display a variable number of nodules when colonized by rhizobia. The authors identify one locus controlling this trait, a typical TIR–NBS–LRR disease resistance gene called NNL1, and the corresponding bacterial effector called NopP.

Glycine max NNL1 restricts symbiotic compatibility with widely distributed bradyrhizobia via root hair infection