Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and the Challenges to Its Extension to Nonlegumes

Access to fixed or available forms of nitrogen limits the productivity of crop plants and thus food production. Nitrogenous fertilizer production currently represents a significant expense for the efficient growth of various crops in the developed world. There are significant potential gains to be had from reducing dependence on nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture in the developed world and in developing countries, and there is significant interest in research on biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for increasing its importance in an agricultural setting. Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N2 to NH3, a form that can be used by plants. However, the process is restricted to…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: NSF-1331098
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Awards: BB/L011484/1, BB/L011476/1, BB/L011476/1, BB/L011484/1