Purdue Scientists Show How Soybeans May Get More Nitrogen from Atmosphere
July 29, 2019 Plant breeders could theoretically increase soybean crop yields if they could control the number of nodules on plant roots since they are responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen, according to an article at Purdue University’s Agriculture News. Increased crop yield is key to feeding a global population expected to surpass 9 billion people by 2050.
In a recent issue of the journal Science, Jianxin Ma, a professor in Purdue University’s Department of Agronomy, and colleagues report a potential method for increasing nodule formation based on discoveries tied to the RNA in rhizobia, soil-borne bacteria essential to root nodule formation. They describe how rhizobia hijack soybean genes that would otherwise suppress nodule formation.
The findings offer scientists genetic targets for new soybean lines that could get even more of their necessary nitrogen from the atmosphere.
“People tend to add fertilizer nitrogen to increase soybean yield, but that is not an economical solution because the fertilizer represses nodule formation. To increase the plant’s yield potential, it is important to increase the efficiencies of nodulation and nitrogen fixation,” Ma said. “We’ve demonstrated that rhizobia can produce small RNAs to interfere with the function of soybean genes. Controlling these processes could increase the amount of atmospheric nitrogen a legume could fix and improve yields.”
Continue reading at Purdue University Agriculture News.
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