Nitrogen-fixing plants, such as clover, has the ability to gather nitrogen from the atmosphere for its fertilisation. Understanding the genetic characteristics that determine this ability will help scientists to figure out ways of creating this trait in other plants, and consequently reducing the agricultural dependence on nitrogen fertiliser Photo: Jon Sullivan

Research by scientists at the French Institut de Recherche Pour le Developement has shown that within nitrogen-fixing plants, a common genetic factor, named SymRK, seems essential for setting-up three types of symbiotic association involving bacteria (Rhizobium spp or Frankia spp) or a mycorrhizal fungus.

SymRK is the common genetic element that operates the signalling mechanisms in the symbiosis between leguminous plants, Rhizobium type bacteria and plants and mycorrhizal fungi. 

Actinorhizal plants can also live symbiotically with a nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Frankia spp). These plants grow within difficult environments such as volcanic soils, mining affected ground and nitrogen-poor terrains.

 The French Institut de Recherce study, in conjunction with the University of Munich, discovered that when lowering the SymRK gene expression within the genome of the Casuarina tree, the reduction produced a considerable loss of nitrogen-fixing ability in the plant and a reduction in its aptitude to form mycorrhiza.

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This discovery and understanding of genetic mechanisms will have an immense impact on the development of procedures for performing the transfer of genetic material necessary for aerial nitrogen fixation to plants that do not have this ability, such as cereals, and will open avenues into ways of reducing nitrogen pollution.

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