Signalling for root nodule organogenesis: a role of the Lotus japonicus cytokinin receptor gene family

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In Canada, the agricultural sector is responsible for about 82% of the phosphorus and 49% of the direct nitrogen pollution, mostly through run-off from fertilized soils and livestock farming. This pollution is choking the environment and contributes to a significant loss in food production and increased health risks. Therefore, development of "green" technologies is imperative. In the past, efforts to improve crops have mainly focused on shoot biomass and seed yield while the relevance of roots has often been neglected. The renewed interest in the underground portion of the plant is now reflected by virtually all modern agricultural productivity strategies, which advocate the need for intensification of research on the enhancement of nutrient acquisition and use by crop plants. Ability to control root architecture and extension of symbiotic nitrogen fixation to non-legumes, are being considered as key areas. The research, as proposed by this application, aims to make strategic contributions to the basic knowledge of key signalling mechanisms pertinent to the development of nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis in legumes. This is thought to be an essential step for future rational consideration of transferring this useful process to non-legumes. Although challenging and long-term, this should be offset by the enormous impact this prospective innovation is expected to have.