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Robust biological nitrogen fixation in a model grass–bacterial association
Author(s) -
Pankievicz Vânia C. S.,
Amaral Fernanda P.,
Santos Karina F. D. N.,
Agtuca Beverly,
Xu Youwen,
Schueller Michael J.,
Arisi Ana Carolina M.,
Steffens Maria. B.R.,
Souza Emanuel M.,
Pedrosa Fábio O.,
Stacey Gary,
Ferrieri Richard A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.12777
Subject(s) - nitrogen fixation , setaria viridis , azospirillum brasilense , rhizobacteria , microbial inoculant , nitrogen , biology , nitrogenase , inoculation , botany , agronomy , chemistry , bacteria , horticulture , rhizosphere , genetics , organic chemistry , weed
Summary Nitrogen‐fixing rhizobacteria can promote plant growth; however, it is controversial whether biological nitrogen fixation ( BNF ) from associative interaction contributes to growth promotion. The roots of Setaria viridis , a model C 4 grass, were effectively colonized by bacterial inoculants resulting in a significant enhancement of growth. Nitrogen‐13 tracer studies provided direct evidence for tracer uptake by the host plant and incorporation into protein. Indeed, plants showed robust growth under nitrogen‐limiting conditions when inoculated with an ammonium‐excreting strain of Azospirillum brasilense . 11 C‐labeling experiments showed that patterns in central carbon metabolism and resource allocation exhibited by nitrogen‐starved plants were largely reversed by bacterial inoculation, such that they resembled plants grown under nitrogen‐sufficient conditions. Adoption of S. viridis as a model should promote research into the mechanisms of associative nitrogen fixation with the ultimate goal of greater adoption of BNF for sustainable crop production.