A Roadmap toward Engineered Nitrogen-Fixing Nodule Symbiosis

Rik Huisman; Rene Geurts

doi:10.1016/j.xplc.2019.100019

A Roadmap toward Engineered Nitrogen-Fixing Nodule Symbiosis

Plant Commun. 2019 Dec 28;1(1):100019. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2019.100019. eCollection 2020 Jan 13.

Authors

Rik Huisman¹, Rene Geurts¹

Affiliation

¹ Wageningen University, Department of Plant Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen 6708PB, The Netherlands.

Abstract

In the late 19^th century, it was discovered that legumes can establish a root nodule endosymbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Soon after, the question was raised whether it is possible to transfer this trait to non-leguminous crops. In the past century, an ever-increasing amount of knowledge provided unique insights into the cellular, molecular, and genetic processes controlling this endosymbiosis. In addition, recent phylogenomic studies uncovered several genes that evolved to function specifically to control nodule formation and bacterial infection. However, despite this massive body of knowledge, the long-standing objective to engineer the nitrogen-fixing nodulation trait on non-leguminous crop plants has not been achieved yet. In this review, the unsolved questions and engineering strategies toward nitrogen-fixing nodulation in non-legume plants are discussed and highlighted.

Keywords: Parasponia; actinorhizal plants; engineering nitrogen fixation; legumes; nodulation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Crops, Agricultural / metabolism
Crops, Agricultural / microbiology
Fabaceae / microbiology
Fabaceae / physiology
Mycorrhizae / physiology
Nitrogen Fixation
Plant Breeding / methods*
Plant Development
Plant Root Nodulation / physiology*
Symbiosis / genetics*