Developmental Studies of the Alfalfa-Rhizobium meliloti symbiosis

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The long term goal of Dr. Hirsch's research is to analyze the steps involved in nodule development, and also to unravel the genetic contributions of two very different organisms, microbe and plant, in the establishment of a nitrogen fixing root nodule. The nodule is a particularly interesting developmental system because it forms only under conditions of nitrogen stress; plants grown with sufficient nitrogen do to develop nodules. Hence, Dr. Hirsch's focuses on the genes expressed early in nodule formation because they herald the onset of a new developmental pathway, one which has far reaching ecological and agronomic importance. The specific objectives of this proposal are: 1) to determine whether bacteria free nodules differ significantly in their development from wild type R. meliloti induced nodules, and 2) to determine whether a cell division factor is produces independently of the root hair deformation factor. This research project will not only extend our understanding of plant microbe interactions, but also lay the foundation for future attempts to develop novel nitrogen fixing crop plants.