Calcium modifies pH effects on the growth of acid-tolerant and acid-sensitive Rhizobium meliloti

The growth of Rhizobium meliloti is sensitive to soil acidity, and its poor growth and survival limits the production from Medicago spp. on acid soils. In the selection of acid tolerant rhizobia for medics, growth in acidified laboratory media has been poorly related to persistence in acid soils. However, the Ca concentration in laboratory media may have been inadequate for growth of some rhizobial strains at low pH. Therefore, acid-tolerant and acid-sensitive strains of R. meliloti were grown in a buffered, defined medium at a range of Ca and P concentrations, and at several pH values. Growth rate was increased by increasing the Ca concentration from 200 to 2000 µM at low (5-70) and moderate (6.50) pH, but not at pH 7.30. Thus, the Ca requirement for the growth of R. meliloti under acid conditions is much higher than previously thought.