Lubrizol Genetics, Inc.

Roger Bookland

Edward Robert Appelbaum

Renee Kosslak

The chemical compounds that induce expression of nodulation genes of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains have been identified. The isoflavones daidzein and genistein were identified as soybean exudate components that induce nod-genes. Other isoflavones, including 7-hydroxyisoflavone, 5,7-dihydroxyisoflavone, biochanin A, formononetin and prunetin, were also found to act as inducers. In addition, several flavonoid compounds including 4',7-dihydroxyflavone, apigenin, kaempferol and coumestrol, were also found to act as inducers. Nodulation inducing compositions and a method for selectively activating the expression of a gene under the control of a soybean exudate inducible promoter in B. japonicum in response to these inducer molecules are described. In addition, soybean inoculating compositions containing the nod-gene inducers and inoculating methods employing these compositions are described.

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Madison, WI, United States of America

Roger Bookland