SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN

FIXATION

J.S.GOPIGHAA (2021033039)
 ABSTRACT

• Symbiotic Nitrogen fixation is nothing but mutualistic

relationship in which plants provide a niche and fixed
carbon to bacteria in exchange for fixed nitrogen
• In this article, the first part describes the interaction
between rhizobia and legumes
• Second part describes nodule functioning.
INTRODUCTION

• Biosphere nitrogen subjected to rapid turnover

because it is eventually lost as N into the atmosphere
• The most efficient N fixers establish a symbiosis
with higher plants in which the energy for N fixation
(O2 ) are provided by plant partner
EARLY EVENTS OF NODULATION:
NOD FACTOR STRUCTURE AND SYNTHESIS

• Rhizobial signal molecules play a key role in induction of initial stages

of nodulation (lipochito oligosaccharides) known as nod factors.
• Genes involved – nod genes
• Except NodD these genes are not expressed in free living bacteria
• Nod factor consists of 2 to 5 N – acetylglucosamine similar to chitin
• Rhizobia has the ability to interact with few host plants except
NGR234, which secretes 18 different Nod factors.
NOD FACTOR STRUCTURE
INTERACTION IWITH ROOT EPIDERMIS

• Rhizobia colonize legume roots and cause deformation of root hairs

• And results in expression of several plant genes in epidermis
• In several cases Nod factor induce deformation at low
concentration( 10-12 M)
• Deformation starts with swelling of root hair tips which occurs
within 5-30 minutes after the introduction nod factors.
• Eg : Nod factors of Rhizobium meliloti bear sulphate group on
sugar residue which causes deformation in alfalfa.
INFECTION

• After attachment of Rhizobia to root hairs, it starts curling tightly and

bacteria become entrapped in curls
• Hydrolysis of plant cell wall takes place in curled region and plasma
membrane invaginates.
• And it results in formation of tubular structure called Infection thread in
which the bacteria enters.
• Concomitant with infection thread formation, cortical cells mitotically
reactivated, forming nodule primordia
• Eg : Pea, Alfalfa
REACTIVATION OF CORTEX CELLS AFTER THE
APPLICATION OF NOD FACTORS
LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF LEGUME ROOT
CORTICAL CELL DIVISION

• During mitotic reactivation by rhizobia, genes that control the

progression through cell cycle such as cdc2 and mitotic
cyclins.
• In additional several nodulin genes are expressed which
differentiate b/w nodule primordia and root meristems.
• Eg : ENOD12
• Nod factors are sufficient for mitotic
reactivation of cortical cells .
• And also cause changes in auxin / cytokinin
balance, resulting in cell division.
NOD FACTOR PERCEPTION AND SIGNAL
TRANSDUCTION

• Nod factor induce responses in three different root tissues

( epidermis, cortex, pericycle )
• Ardourel et.al states that atleast two different nod factor
receptors are present in epidermis
1. Signalling receptor – responsible for root hair deformation
2. Uptake receptor – intiate further infection process.
• Biochemical approach to isolate a nod factor
receptor is feasible because large number of
purified nod factors are available and which
can also be synthesized easily.
 NODULE FUNCTIONING

• Symbiotic Nitrogen fixation takes place in Specialized

bacterial cells called bacteriods .
• The bacterial Nitrogenese enzyme carry out follwing
reaction
N2 + 8H+ + 8e- + 16 ATP => 2 NH3 + H2 + 16 ADP + 16Pi
NODULE FUNCTIONING

• In context of whole plant, the root nodule

function as Nitrogen source and Carbon sink.
• Root nodules provide proper environment to
allow efficient N fixation by microsymbiont.
CONCLUSION

• Symbiotic Nitrogen fixation, where the plants

such as legumes fix atm N to get Ammonia,
usable by plants which have sustainable impact as
it is found in nature also has low environmental
and economic costs and is broadly established.
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