The key to collaboration between plants and bacteria

2002/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Botanika

Many plants live in symbiosis with bacteria, they favor collaboration between them: bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into useful for plants and plants feed bacteria. In legumes, for example, this collaboration is essential if you want a good development of the plant.

Now, a team of Hungarian scientists have studied how nitrogen exchange occurs between plants and bacteria, and have been able to identify the key protein for exchange. The molecule has been called WHO and in the genome of plants the gene that encodes it has been found.

It is said to be a major breakthrough because it allows an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of exchange. Plans for the application of proteins in harvesting plants have already been initiated, unable to perform this symbiosis. If these plants have the ability to fix nitrogen, crop yields would grow enormously.