Articles tagged with Nitrogen Fixation
Climate warming significantly increases plant growth in permafrost regions by altering growing seasons and root penetration, but its impact depends on nitrogen supply. A new study reveals that moss-associated biological nitrogen fixation is a critical factor in sustaining plant growth under warming conditions.
A new study finds periphyton, a thin microbial community at the soil-water interface, captures 6-24% of applied fertilizer N. Periphyton stores approximately 0.8 teragrams of nitrogen annually, closing the paddy-field nitrogen budget gap.
A new study reveals cyanobacteria as major carriers of antibiotic resistance genes in estuarine ecosystems. The researchers found strong connections between microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling and the presence of resistance genes.
Dr. Corday Selden has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of how marine microbial interactions structure the chemistry of the ocean. Her pioneering research has reshaped the understanding of nitrogen cycling, microbial metabolism, and biosphere–geosphere interactions.
Researchers at QST discovered that controlled gamma-ray mutagenesis can create heat-tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria in weeks, shortening development timelines. The method produces robust, climate-ready microbial products for agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel production.
A research team led by Professor Shushi Peng has estimated global biological nitrogen fixation for natural land ecosystems, revealing substantial biases in widely used Earth System Models. The team found that the models underestimate natural terrestrial nitrogen fixation by up to 18%, with a multi-model mean of ~67.7 Tg N yr-1.
A new international study reveals that nitrogen fixation occurs beneath Arctic sea ice, increasing available nitrogen for algae and potentially boosting marine life. This discovery could also impact carbon absorption in the Arctic Ocean.
A comprehensive review synthesizes decade-long progress in quantifying nitrogen transformation processes, identifying novel microbial pathways, and developing sustainable management strategies. Key findings include advanced methodologies and novel microbial pathways that offer potential solutions to reduce nitrogen losses and nitrous o...
Researchers studied a microscopic alliance between algae and cyanobacteria to understand how bacteria lose genes and adapt to increasing host dependence. The study found that the level of integration between the symbionts affects genome size, gene content, and metabolic pathways.
A research team has found that unicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-B plays a crucial role in marine nitrogen (N2) fixation, contributing 5.2-7.2 Tg N yr-1 of N2 fixation in the western North Pacific and 10.8-15.0 Tg N yr-1 globally, about 20% of global oceanic N2 fixation flux.
A global inventory reveals that natural areas have access to about a quarter less nitrogen than previously estimated, which could limit the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. This finding has implications for natural climate solutions, as nitrogen is essential to plant growth.
Scientists have discovered a new bacterial strain, Bacillus thuringiensis RZ2MS9, that can enhance the growth of soybeans and corn when combined with rhizobia. This partnership reduces fertilizer use, saving Brazilian growers an estimated USD 15 billion annually.
Researchers have confirmed that aggregates called 'marine snow particles' can support nitrogen (N2) fixation by bacteria worldwide. The study reveals that this process accounts for about 10% of total N2 fixation in the global ocean, with bacterial activity distributed latitudinally across different temperature ranges.
New research reveals alfalfa-almond intercropping reduces winter soil nitrate leaching and field water loss via evaporation. The practice can capture and convert nitrogen losses into revenues for almond farmers during the non-productive winter season.
Researchers at Utah State University and Polytechnic University of Madrid report a simpler pathway for nitrogen fixation in plants, involving just seven genes. This discovery could alleviate hunger in less-developed areas and reduce the carbon footprint of fertilizer production.
A long-term study found that nitrogen input from fertilizers reduces the diversity of nitrogen-fixing plants in temperate forests. The forestREplot database revealed a significant decrease in these plants' abundance with increasing nitrogen levels, regardless of temperature changes and aridity trends.
Increased nitrogen deposition from human activity is reducing diversity and evolutionary distinctiveness of nitrogen-fixing plants. The loss of these plants threatens both biodiversity and ecosystem stability, according to a study published in Science Advances.
A study found that nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil enhance flowers' attractiveness to bumblebees. Plants with these bacteria grew significantly taller and larger than those without, and their flowers became more vibrant and attractive to pollinators.
Researchers found that nitrogen applications had a limited impact on soybean yields, with no consistent benefit from single applications. However, a single application at planting showed increased yields in certain conditions, particularly in soils with low organic matter.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that the plant hormone gibberellin is essential for legume nitrogen-fixing root nodule formation and maturation. The study used a highly sensitive next-generation biosensor to visualize GA accumulation in specific zones of the root, revealing its critical role in nodulation.
Researchers discovered that nodulation evolved in a two-step process, with the basic genetic toolkit developed first and then refined through multiple genetic mutations. This complex circuit breaker-like mechanism suggests that nodulation is not controlled by a single switch.
Researchers discovered zinc's crucial role in nitrogen fixation of legumes, optimizing crop efficiency and reducing synthetic fertilizer reliance. This finding could enhance nitrogen delivery, improve yields, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Researchers uncover a previously unknown partnership between Rhizobia bacteria and marine diatoms that fixes large amounts of nitrogen in the ocean. This discovery has significant implications for global marine productivity and carbon dioxide uptake.
A new genetic regulator, known as Fixation Under Nitrate (FUN), has been identified in legume plants that reduces their ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nutrients. Removing the FUN gene allows legumes to fix nitrogen regardless of soil nitrate levels.
A new study by RIKEN CSRS shows that biomass from purple photosynthetic marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is an excellent nitrogen fertilizer, effective as inorganic synthetic fertilizers but with lower environmental side effects. The biomass boosts plant growth without altering soil pH or salinity.
Scientists find new partnership between diatoms and Rhizobia bacteria in ocean nitrogen fixation, playing a crucial role in sustaining marine productivity. The discovery has exciting implications for agriculture, particularly for breeding crops that can thrive without fertilizers.
Researchers at Utah State University have made significant contributions to sustaining human exploration on Mars by successfully growing plants in Martian conditions. The team's foundational research has been honored with a NASA Achievement Award.
Researchers have discovered the first known nitrogen-fixing organelle within a eukaryotic cell, which challenges current understanding of biological nitrogen fixation. The discovery provides insight into ocean ecosystems and has potential implications for agriculture.
Researchers found a symbiotic relationship between cyanobacteria UCYN-A and marine algae, B. bigelowii, where UCYN-A fix nitrogen gas into ammonium without regulating dinitrogen use. This suggests they may be on the path to becoming organelle-like structures.
Legume plants have a unique ability to interact with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing them to thrive without external nitrogen. Researchers identified four essential phosphorylation sites on the SYMRK kinase that mediate this symbiotic relationship.
A new study reveals that cycad species that survived the dinosaur extinction relied on symbiotic bacteria in their roots for nitrogen. This discovery sheds light on how these plants adapted to changing environments and could provide insights into understanding Earth's climate history.
Engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes using genetic engineering could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer. This approach involves bi-directional signaling to release fixed nitrogen, promoting efficient communication between engineered plants and microbes.
A new study by UNC-Chapel Hill researchers found significant nitrogen fixation in sargassum communities, outpacing other marine sources. This discovery sheds light on the critical role of sargassum in supporting marine productivity and highlights the importance of long-term data collection.
Bacteria can regulate nitrogen fixation through a protein called NifL, which changes shape in response to oxygen and energy levels. This discovery could lead to new ways to engineer bacteria and biofertilizers, improving crop yields in poor soils.
Climate change is expected to impact northern peatlands, a key carbon storage ecosystem. A recent study found that rising temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels can disrupt the delicate balance between nitrogen fixation and methane oxidation, leading to unpredictable outcomes.
A team of researchers has discovered that reactive boron compounds can efficiently target and activate molecular nitrogen, converting it to ammonium chloride at room temperature without metals or hydrogen gas. This radical-based approach opens up possibilities for ammonia production without fossil-based raw materials.
Research in tropical forests reveals that nitrogen-fixing trees are vulnerable to herbivory by insects, limiting their growth and survival. This constraint could undermine reforestation efforts and the role of these trees in sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Researchers found that nitrogen-fixing trees experience 26% more herbivory than non-fixers, reducing their ability to alleviate nitrogen deficits in tropical soils. This selective feeding by insects and other animals limits the success of fixers and the nitrogen they provide.
Researchers at MIT discovered a peptide that sequesters heme, an iron-containing molecule, and sends bacteria into an iron-starvation mode, potentially treating diseases like periodontal disease and sickle cell disease. This finding could translate to therapeutic applications for patients with excessive heme in their blood.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in controlling bacterial nitrogen fixation by cereals, enabling them to produce their own ammonia fertiliser. This development has the potential to reduce reliance on industrially produced ammonia-based fertilisers and mitigate environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers engineered Azotobacter vinelandii to produce ammonia and excrete it into crop plants, reducing water pollution. This approach could mitigate environmental pollution and provide sustainable solutions for nitrogen management in soil.
Researchers have discovered two new and unusual species of diatoms that fix nitrogen, a critical process supporting productivity in nutrient-poor open ocean waters. These diatoms harbor symbiotic cyanobacteria that convert dissolved nitrogen gas into ammonia, enabling them to thrive in nutrient-poor conditions.
Researchers discovered regulation of cytokinin is central to balancing nitrogen acquisition. Legumes restrict nodules when nitrogen is abundant, acquiring instead from the soil.
Researchers will test inexpensive techniques to increase asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, aiming to reduce reliance on expensive certified organic fertilizers. The project aims to provide evidence for a cheap, effective, and sustainable form of nitrogen for organically managed crops.
Salt stress alters legume responses to symbiotic rhizobacteria by modulating gene expression. Several genes with well-characterized functions in nodulation are highly induced under salt stress, making the plant hypersensitive to bacterial signals.
Researchers found that clover grown with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in Martian regolith experienced significant 75% more root and shoot growth compared to uninoculated plants. However, the regolith showed no excess production of nitrogen compounds, suggesting a potential role for these microbes in terraforming Mars soils.
Researchers have found that purple sulfur bacteria in a modern-day lake can fix nitrogen very efficiently, even at low molybdenum concentrations. This discovery provides the first indication that these bacteria may have played a significant role in nitrogen fixation in the Proterozoic ocean.
Research on three endangered tree species in Guam reveals that their decomposition releases nitrogen and carbon into the soil, improving forest ecosystem health. The findings highlight the importance of biodiversity and symbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms in nutrient cycling.
Scientists at Princeton University found that vanadium can facilitate nitrogen fixation when molybdenum is scarce, suggesting the process may be more resilient than previously thought. This discovery has significant implications for understanding nutrient budgets and biodiversity in ecosystems.
Research reveals that nodulation increases salicylic acid production in pea and Medicago truncatula plants, making them more resistant to powdery mildew. This discovery has significant implications for plant defense and nutrition.
Scientists have found a new way for microorganisms to convert nitrogen into a form usable by organisms in the Arctic Ocean. This process, known as nitrogen fixation, could make phytoplankton more productive, ultimately decreasing atmospheric carbon levels.
Researchers found that cyanobacterial diazotrophs drive nitrogen fixation in coastal areas, fueling photosynthesis and CO2 uptake. The new technique allowed for near-continuous analysis of N2 fixation, revealing higher rates in coastal waters than previously thought.
A new type of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, UCYN-A, has been found in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean, challenging traditional assumptions about its presence. This discovery reveals that nitrogen fixation by UCYN-A occurs globally, including in frigid Arctic waters.
Researchers at EPFL have successfully converted molecular nitrogen into ammonia using mild low-energy conditions. The development of a uranium-oxo bridge allows for easy cleavage of the bound dinitrogen complex to produce cyanamide, a widely used compound in agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
A large-scale study reveals an abundant and widely distributed suite of non-photosynthetic bacterial populations responsible for fixing nitrogen in the surface ocean. The research, published in Nature Microbiology, provides the first genomic evidence of non-photosynthetic bacteria with nitrogen fixation capabilities.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will study how legumes evolved to cooperate with bacteria for nitrogen fixation. The goal is to recreate this ability in other crops like poplar and cereals, reducing fertilizer use and environmental pollution.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a uranium-based compound that enables nitrogen fixation to occur in ambient conditions, paving the way for more efficient catalysts and new concepts for metals beyond uranium. This breakthrough has significant implications for the production of ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds.
A comprehensive review highlights the potential benefits of non-rhizobia bacteria in nitrogen-fixing nodules of legumes, including improved plant fitness under environmental stress. The study's findings may lead to new organic production practices and reduced pesticide use, promoting sustainable crop productivity.
A new study reveals that ocean acidification can overwhelm benefits to nitrogen-fixing bacteria, hampering essential services for marine life. Trichodesmium cyanobacteria, which contributes up to 50% of marine nitrogen fixation, shows negative impacts under acidic conditions and with limited iron availability.
A massive atlas of plant and bacterial proteins has been published, providing unprecedented detail on the molecular controls of nitrogen fixation symbiosis. The study, led by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers, reveals the interplay of proteins in rhizobia colonization of root nodules in the model legume Medicago truncatula.