Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation -- A Developmental Pathway

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The aims of the proposal are to investigate the sequence of events involved in the early stages of nodule development using specific Rhizobium mutants that induce the formation of nodules on alfalfa roots which are arrested at distinct stages of their development. The PI hypothesizes that infection thread formation is the second signal for nodulin gene expression, and that the nod and exo genes interact in the early stages of nodule formation. Dr. Hirsch is proposing a multi-faceted approach utilizing techniques of plant tissue culture, genetics, molecular biology and electron microscopy. Both bacterial genes and plant genes are involved in the formation of a nitrogen fixing root nodule. Understanding the roles of these different genes in nodulation is essential if we are to transfer the nitrogen fixing capability into nonleguminous plants.