Nitrogen fixation

About: Nitrogen fixation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7940 publications have been published within this topic receiving 232921 citations. The topic is also known as: GO:0009399.

Potential for nitrogen fixation in maize genotypes in Brazil.

Abstract: N2 fixation in field-grown maize (Zea mays L.) plants was estimated by a nondestructive acetylene reduction method which permitted the plants to continue growing and produce seeds. Samples from six areas revealed mean nitrogenase activities of 74-2167 nmol of C2H4/(g of dry roots × hr) for 10 plants. Among 276 S1 lines planted in two field experiments, 17 lines were selected for further nitrogenase activity assays after prescreening. Variability within lines was high but significant differences among lines were obtained in one experiment. The best lines showed mean nitrogenase activities of 2026, 2315, and 7124 nmol of C2H4/(g of dry roots × hr), whereas the original cultivar reduced only 313 nmol. The highest value approaches the nitrogenase activity of soybean. If the theoretical 3:1 (C2H4/N2 reduced) conversion factor is used, a potential daily N2 fixation of 2 kg of N2/hectare can be calculated. Periodic sampling within a brachytic maize cultivar revealed that maximum nitrogenase activity occurred at about the 75% silking stage. Soil effects also were pronounced. N2-fixing Spirillum sp. could be isolated from all active root pieces when they were surface sterilized. These organisms appear to be primarily responsible for root nitrogenase activity in maize.

Azoarcus Grass Endophytes Contribute Fixed Nitrogen to the Plant in an Unculturable State

Abstract: The extent to which the N2-fixing bacterial endophyte Azoarcus sp. strain BH72 in the rhizosphere of Kallar grass can provide fixed nitrogen to the plant was assessed by evaluating inoculated plants grown in the greenhouse and uninoculated plants taken from the natural environment. The inoculum consisted of either wild-type bacteria or nifK- mutant strain BHNKD4. In N2-deficient conditions, plants inoculated with strain BH72 (N2-fixing test plants) grew better and accumulated more nitrogen with a lower delta15N signature after 8 months than did plants inoculated with the mutant strain (non-N2-fixing control plants). Polyadenylated or polymerase chain reaction-amplified BH72 nifH transcripts were retrieved from test but not from control plants. BH72 nifH transcripts were abundant. The inocula could not be reisolated. These results indicate that Azoarcus sp. BH72 can contribute combined N2 to the plant in an unculturable state. Abundant BH72 nifH transcripts were detected also in uninoculated plants taken from the natural environment, from which Azoarcus sp. BH72 also could not be isolated. Quantification of nitrogenase gene transcription indicated a high potential of strain BH72 for biological N2 fixation in association with roots. Phylogenetic analysis of nitrogenase sequences predicted that uncultured grass endophytes including Azoarcus spp. are ecologically dominant and play an important role in N2-fixation in natural grass ecosystems.

Pesticides reduce symbiotic efficiency of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and host plants

Abstract: Unprecedented agricultural intensification and increased crop yield will be necessary to feed the burgeoning world population, whose global food demand is projected to double in the next 50 years. Although grain production has doubled in the past four decades, largely because of the widespread use of synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation promoted by the "Green Revolution," this rate of increased agricultural output is unsustainable because of declining crop yields and environmental impacts of modern agricultural practices. The last 20 years have seen diminishing returns in crop yield in response to increased application of fertilizers, which cannot be completely explained by current ecological models. A common strategy to reduce dependence on nitrogenous fertilizers is the production of leguminous crops, which fix atmospheric nitrogen via symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria, in rotation with nonleguminous crops. Here we show previously undescribed in vivo evidence that a subset of organochlorine pesticides, agrichemicals, and environmental contaminants induces a symbiotic phenotype of inhibited or delayed recruitment of rhizobia bacteria to host plant roots, fewer root nodules produced, lower rates of nitrogenase activity, and a reduction in overall plant yield at time of harvest. The environmental consequences of synthetic chemicals compromising symbiotic nitrogen fixation are increased dependence on synthetic nitrogenous fertilizer, reduced soil fertility, and unsustainable long-term crop yields.