BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION

NON-SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN FIXATION

The two main steps of non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation are formation of ammonia and
nitrification. Ammonia is formed by reducing the atmospheric nitrogen.

NITROGEN CYCLE
1. NITROGEN FIXATION
- Conversion of atmospheric N2 to into ammonia for living organisms is known as
nitrogen fixation.
 - This process is carried out by leguminous plants such as groundnut, even some
bacteria can fix atmospheric N2
- Ex:

2. NITROGEN ASSIMILATION
- The process of absorbing nitrates and ammonia into organic nitrogen is known as
nitrogen assimilation
- The organic nitrogen is transferred into animals’ body when plants are eaten by
animals

3. AMMONIFICATION
- The process of converting organic nitrogen into ammonia when animals die is
known as ammonification
- Its also known as mineralization
- This process was carried out by some saprophytes like fungi and bacteria
- Ammonia is also produced from excretory products of animals

4. NITRIFICATION
- The bacteria which is involved in nitrification is known as nitrifying bacteria.
- Ammonia is first converted to nitrites
- Ex: Nitrococcus, Nitrosomonas

5. DENITRIFICATION
- Nitrates are converted into molecular nitrogen through nitric oxide is known as
Denitrification
- In order to maintain the equilibrium of nitrogen in the atmosphere
- Bacteria involved in denitrification are called denitrifying bacteria
- Ex:

-
SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN FIXATION
There are many different symbiotic associations between nitrogen fixing bacteria and plant
roots. The most significant one is :
- Rhizobium (symbiotic nitrogen fixing organism) – ROOT NODULE
SYMBIOSES

MECHANISM / EXTABLISHMENT OF SYMBIOSIS

 RECOGNITON OF THE
HOST
- Normally rhizobium are
free living organisms in the
soil.
- Certain root
exudates/chemical released
from the plant attract the
rhizobium towards the root
- Exudates comprises –
amino acids, Biotin,
Flavonoids, other vitamins
(Chemo attractants)
- Flavonoids also activate the
nod genes of particular
rhizobium species which
help in nodule formation

 ATTACHMENT OF
BACTERIUM ROOT HAIR
- Lectins are secreted by all
species of legumes and
Tripholins (Polysaccharide)
- Lectins and Tripholins
(Surface receptors) mediate
the binding with rhizobium
to the root
 - So once the binding is done the root hair starts curling in response to the nod
factors that r released by the rhizobium.
- When the nod factors are released it stimulates the plant to produce auxin and
cytokinins which causes elongation of the root hair
-

 INVASION
- Once the root curls are
formed the organism starts
invading/enters the root
hair
- There is a hypha like/
filament like structure
formed called the infection
thread
- So the rhizobium forms the infection thread and enters the organism only through
the infection thread
- The infection thread is lined by cellulosic or hemi cellulosic substances of the
plant
- The bacteria through the infection thread moves towards the root cortex
  NODULATION
- Once the organism reaches the root cortex that triggers hyperplasia (rapid cell
division)
- This happens coz the cortical cells are nearer to the vascular bundle which
provides bacteria optimum conditions for rapid cell division
- As the organism proliferates the cortical cells also divide rapidly and form nodules
(swollen bulbous enlarged structure)
- Inside the root nodule rhizobium will transform into a bacteroid structure ie.
inside the membrane there are 1/more rhizobium
- So the Bacteroides within the membrane inside the cells is called a symbiosome
- Only after the formation of symbiosome the N2 Fixation starts

When the plant dies these rhizobia will be released into the soil
In rhizobium host specificity is very important.

BIOCHEMISTRY OF NITROGEN FIXATION IN

NODULES

Nitrogenase enzyme is present in within the Bacteroides.