SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN-FIXING ROOT-NODULES OF LATHYRUS-MARITIMUS (L) BIGEL (BEACH PEA) FROM NEWFOUNDLAND SHORE LINES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO OLEOSOMES (LIPID BODIES)

Lathyrus maritimus (L.) Bigel, commonly known as beach pea, grows alon g the shorelines of Newfoundland, Canada. Rhizobia have been isolated from the subterranean root nodules and the cultures were induced to no dulate seedlings raised in the laboratory. The nodules collected from the field were elongated and sometimes branched with proximal ends thi ckened. Histological characteristics revealed their indeterminate pere nnial form. Oleosomes (lipid bodies) were present in the nodule tissue s. Morphometric analysis showed their presence in the nodule cortex ce lls throughout all developmental stages, but they were found in the in fected cells only during the early stages of infection and symbiosis. It is suggested that oleosomes are utilized for membrane and rhizobial proliferation during establishment of symbiosis in the infected cells . The role of oleosomes in the cortical cells remains unclear.