Roots with tiny balls are they good?

[Maro]

Hi Everyone,
I just bough a Wisteria and was repotting it, the roots have several little balls on it.
What are they? Are they good for the tree? Should I keep or remove the?
Here is my drawing if it
Thanks

 

[cbroad]

Not positive, but they could nitrogen-fixing root nodules. If that's what they are, then they are good. They contain nitrogen fixing bacteria that has a symbiotic relationship with the roots.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_nodule

 

[Mayank]

Wisteria can fix Nitrogen so most likely root nodules that fix N? That is why I try to stay away from feeding mine (not a bonsai though) any fertilizer that has N. Still hasn't flowered in 15 years so I'm kinda over it, tried root pruning, hard pruning, etc. I'm done with that sumbatch

 

[MHBonsai]

May also be root gall. Need to see photos. I'm not sure how susceptible wisteria is to root gall or nematodes, but it certainly isn't good for the tree.

Root-Knot Nematode

 

[Maro]

Here is a picture of some of the pruned roots.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Wisteria makes beans after flowering, it has compound leafs, it's a climber.
That makes root nodules very likely. A lot of plants, like peas, have the same structures.
Wikipedia says those are naturally present on wisteria.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

root nodules - filled with symbiotic bacteria / fungi
not a problem.

 

[Shibui]

Wisteria are definitely legumes so they do form an association with rhizobium. Those are various bacteria that have the ability to convert atmospheric N into plant available N like ammonia. The rhizobia are protected by root nodules like the ones shown.
There are some pests that also form root nodules but the vast majority of nodules on legumes will be nitrogen fixing nodules and so are good rather than bad.

Wisteria can fix Nitrogen so most likely root nodules that fix N? That is why I try to stay away from feeding mine (not a bonsai though) any fertilizer that has N. Still hasn't flowered in 15 years so I'm kinda over it, tried root pruning, hard pruning, etc. I'm done with that sumbatch

Nitrogen fixing is really, really hard work. It does cost plant quite a lot of energy to feed and protect the rhizobium in the roots. There is a net benefit to the plant but there's no such thing as a free l;
.

 

[Shibui]

website glitch appears to have deleted the remainder of the previous post. Russians? USA govt?
continued:
There is no such thing as a free lunch in the plant world. Legumes also have normal roots and can use plant available nitrogen much easier than getting it through rhizobia. Withholding N from your wisteria won't be doing it any favours.
There are a number of reasons why wisteria don't flower. Most common is maturity. Wisteria take a long time to reach adulthood and breeding age. 7 years is common and sometimes up to 20 years from seed. lack of nutrients will delay maturity.
Cuttings, layers and grafts can flower much younger because they are started with already mature wood.
Depriving plants of some needs is sometimes used to force flowering. They respond to possible death by attempting to pass on genes through flowers and subsequent seed. There is a risk you could push the plant too far with these strategies and kill it. Providing optimal conditions is a far better strategy to induce flowering - appropriate light, nutrients, water, etc. Fert designed to boost flowering (low N:K ratio) can help boost flower production.

 

[rorror]

Wisteria roots nodules from wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soil_fertility_-_nitrogen_fixation_by_root_nodules_on_Wistaria_roots,_with_hazelnut_to_show_size.JPG

But havent seen any root nodules on my wisteria at repoting.

 

[Shibui]

Not all individual legumes get nodules. There needs to be some rhizobium bacteria in the soil to invade the roots. Then the plant builds a house for the bacteria - little nodules. None of the correct bacteria no nodules.
Farmers get legume seeds coated in the correct strains for the plants they are sowing so the bacteria are right there when the seed germinates. I have no idea whether commercial strains would be compatible with wisteria. Most legumes can associate with a range of different bacterial strains but some are more effective than others. If you wanted to get nodules you could try adding a commercial source of rhizobia and see if that helps or introduce some soil or roots from a healthy wisteria and see what happens.
As mentioned earlier these plants can live quite happily without rhizobia as long as they get regular fertilizer. The bacterial association is just an adaptation that helps the plants compete when nutrient levels are a bit low.

 

[elroy]

Here is a picture of some of the pruned roots.

if they are nodules, you can split one open with your finger nail. If it is pink inside, it is active fixing nitrogen.

Elroy

 

[sorce]

Eat em!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Maro]

Not all individual legumes get nodules. There needs to be some rhizobium bacteria in the soil to invade the roots. Then the plant builds a house for the bacteria - little nodules. None of the correct bacteria no nodules.
Farmers get legume seeds coated in the correct strains for the plants they are sowing so the bacteria are right there when the seed germinates. I have no idea whether commercial strains would be compatible with wisteria. Most legumes can associate with a range of different bacterial strains but some are more effective than others. If you wanted to get nodules you could try adding a commercial source of rhizobia and see if that helps or introduce some soil or roots from a healthy wisteria and see what happens.
As mentioned earlier these plants can live quite happily without rhizobia as long as they get regular fertilizer. The bacterial association is just an adaptation that helps the plants compete when nutrient levels are a bit low.

Wisteria roots nodules from wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soil_fertility_-_nitrogen_fixation_by_root_nodules_on_Wistaria_roots,_with_hazelnut_to_show_size.JPG

But havent seen any root nodules on my wisteria at repoting.

Thanks. My others wisteria has no nodules, it is new to me, I am assuming the previews owner had added something to the soil to create them.
I will just fertilize and wait with finger crossed.