Nitrogenase Activity (C2H2) of Isolated Peanut and Cowpea Bacteroids under Nitrogen, Argon, and Helium Atmospheres

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Abstract
Peanut nodules have been reported to have several times higher nitrogenase activity (C2H2) than cowpea and siratro nodules induced by the same rhizobial strains. The unique morphological modification of the peanut bacteroids has been considered to be the cause for such enhanced activity. To investigate this possibility, nitrogenase activities of isolated peanut and cowpea bacteroids were compared. Peanut bacteroids showed low initial rates of C2H2 reduction which increased with time, but for cowpea bacteroids higher initial rates decreased with time. Moreover, the gases used as diluent for O2 (N2, Ar, or He) were found to influence O2 tolerance and C2H2-reduction rates of bacteroids.