Recrutement of a lateral root developmental pathway into root nodule formation of legumes
Sunday, December 1, 2019 - 11:30
in Biology & Nature
Peas and other legumes develop spherical or cylindrical structures -- called nodules -- in their roots to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a useable nutrient for the legume plant. Root nodule symbiosis enables legumes to grow under nitrogen-limiting conditions where most of non-leguminous plants cannot survive. Researchers in Japan now have a better understanding of how the symbiotic relationship evolved.