What is it about?
Nitrogen (N) is an essential plant nutrient and the most limiting factor for plant productivity and agricultural production worldwide. However, the symbiosis established between leguminous plants and certain soil bacteria, collectively known as rhizobia, is able to overcome N limitation by a process called N-fixation. Until recently, however, the crucial role of sulfate for the N-fixation process has not been fully understood. Scientists could now visualize that sulfate, taken up by the plant, is actually transport in high amounts towards the rhizobia . This active transport is crucial for the synthesis of the microbial nitrogenase enzyme complex, enabling N-fixation.
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Why is it important?
This work substantially contributes to a better understanding of the importance of sulfate availability in soils for symbiosis functioning and consequently the symbiotic N-fixation. Here, evidence is presented that the agronomically relevant legume-rhizobia symbiosis is able to compensate for N- but not S-limitation in soils – an underestimated fact.
Perspectives
In conventional cropping systems, symbiotic N-fixation is not only limited to certain plant species but also to the soil nutrient availability and composition and has thus far been overpowered by N-fertilization. I hope this article contributes to a better understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation relevant to future food security and increases interest in supporting research in the field of plant-microbe interactions and the reduction of N-fertilization.
Dr Stefanie Wienkoop
University of Vienna
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Sulfate is transported at significant rates through the symbiosome membrane and is crucial for nitrogenase biosynthesis, Plant Cell & Environment, January 2019, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/pce.13481.
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