Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the challenges to its extension to nonlegumes

Mus, F; Crook, M; Garcia, K; Garcia Costas, A; Geddes, B; Kouri, E; Paramasivan, P; Ryu, M; Oldroyd, G; Poole, P; Udvardi, M; Voigt, C; Ané, J; Peters, J

Journal article

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the challenges to its extension to nonlegumes

Abstract:: Access to fixed or available forms of nitrogen limits the productivity of crop plants and thus food production. Nitrogenous fertilizer production currently represents a significant expense for the efficient growth of various crops in the developed world. There are significant potential gains to be had from reducing dependence on nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture in the developed world and in developing countries, and there is significant interest in research on biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for increasing its importance in an agricultural setting. Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N2 to NH3, a form that can be used by plants. However, the process is restricted to bacteria and archaea and does not occur in eukaryotes. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is part of a mutualistic relationship in which plants provide a niche and fixed carbon to bacteria in exchange for fixed nitrogen. This process is restricted mainly to legumes in agricultural systems, and there is considerable interest in exploring whether similar symbioses can be developed in nonlegumes, which produce the bulk of human food. We are at a juncture at which the fundamental understanding of biological nitrogen fixation has matured to a level that we can think about engineering symbiotic relationships using synthetic biology approaches. This minireview highlights the fundamental advances in our understanding of biological nitrogen fixation in the context of a blueprint for expanding symbiotic nitrogen fixation to a greater diversity of crop plants through synthetic biology.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

Actions

Email

Email this record

Send the bibliographic details of this record to your email address.

Your Email
Please enter the email address that the record information will be sent to.

-
Your message (optional)
Please add any additional information to be included within the email.
Cite

Cite this record

APA Style

Mus, F., Crook, M., Garcia, K., Garcia Costas, A., Geddes, B., Kouri, E., Paramasivan, P., Ryu, M., Oldroyd, G., Poole, P., Udvardi, M., Voigt, C., Ané, J., & Peters, J. (2016). Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the challenges to its extension to nonlegumes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82(13), 3698–3710.

MLA Style

Mus, F., et al. “Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and the Challenges to Its Extension to Nonlegumes.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 82, no. 13, American Society for Microbiology, 2016, pp. 3698–710.

Chicago Style

Mus, F, M Crook, K Garcia, A Garcia Costas, B Geddes, E Kouri, P Paramasivan, et al. 2016. “Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and the Challenges to Its Extension to Nonlegumes.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology 82 (13): 3698–3710.
Share
Print