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Potential and pitfalls of trying to extend symbiotic interactions of nitrogen-fixing organisms to presently non-nodulated plants, such as rice

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Management of Biological Nitrogen Fixation for the Development of More Productive and Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 65))

Abstract

It has been a long-standing goal in the field of biological nitrogen fixation to extend nitrogen-fixing symbioses to presently non-nodulated cereal plants, such as rice. A number of researchers have recently described the induction of “nodule-like” structures on the roots of cereals primarily by rhizobia, in either the presence or absence of plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes or plant hormones. We briefly review this research and discuss the potential problems associated with the introduction of nitrogen-fixing microbes in novel physiological environments, such as rice roots. The results of experiments carried out in China on the induction of “nodule-like” structures on rice roots by rhizobia are highlighted. In addition, we present preliminary results of a series of experiments designed to repeat and evaluate these results using a variety of microscopic techniques and molecular genetic approaches.

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J. K. Ladha M. B. Peoples

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de Bruijn, F.J., Jing, Y., Dazzo, F.B. (1995). Potential and pitfalls of trying to extend symbiotic interactions of nitrogen-fixing organisms to presently non-nodulated plants, such as rice. In: Ladha, J.K., Peoples, M.B. (eds) Management of Biological Nitrogen Fixation for the Development of More Productive and Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 65. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0053-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0053-3_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4029-7

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