Genetic discoveries reveal how legumes provide oxygen to the symbiotic bacteria in their roots

The nodules of legumes are colored pink by legumenin, which is caused by the symbiotic relationship between plants and beneficial bacteria

Scientists have discovered a gene in legumes that controls the production of an oxygen-carrying molecule that is essential to the close relationship between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria

This discovery provides other plants with the ability to produce ammonia from bacteria, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers for crops that rely on fossil fuels and pollution

The roots of legumes are home to symbiotic bacteria

In return, the plant provides sugar and oxygen to the bacteria in the root nodules

The plant's solution to this "oxygen paradox of biological nitrogen fixation" is a molecule called leghem hemoglobin

The research team has identified two transcription factors that control the amount of hemoglobin produced in legume root nodules

"This provides a key insight into how legumes create the micro-oxygen environment required for nitrogen fixation

Dr.

This research was conducted by a collaborative team led by Dr.

Using the legume alfalfa model, the research team observed a protein family in the plant, several of which play a role in nodulation

For further research, they planted plants in a soilless air culture system to observe nodules and found that plants lacking NIN and NLP2 were smaller, nodules, and pink

Dr.

This research also provides insights into the evolution of this important symbiotic relationship

Jeremy further explained: "This is exciting because it shows that these transcription factors and their hemoglobin targets are recruited into the nodules as modules to help improve the energy in the nitrogen-fixing cells, which makes us rare to see How did this symbiotic relationship evolve

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