NITROGEN-FIXING ENDOPHYTE FRANKIA IN POLISH ALNUS-GLUTINOSA (L) GARTN

The first succesful isolation of Frankia from the nodules of Polish Al nus glutinosa have been described. The fine structures of endophyte (t hick-walled spherical vesicles of 6 mu m diameter, numerous sporangia, various in shape, 60-80 mu m length, aseptate and highly branched fil aments 1-3 mu m) have been studied by light and scanning microscopy. T he pure culture in BAP medium without combined nitrogen showed nitroge nase activity (94.51 nmoles of ethylene was formed from acetylene per 1.0 ml of packed cells per hr). The isolate was capable of forming N-2 -fixing symbiotic root nodules on Alnus glutinosa seedlings.