Scientists Uncover First Step in Reducing Plant Need for Nitrogen

A recent discovery by a team of University of Missouri researchers could be the first step to helping crops use less nitrogen. Gary Stacey, professor of plant sciences at the University of Missouri, found that crops, such as corn, are "confused" when confronted with an invasive, but beneficial, bacteria known as rhizobia. When the bacteria interact correctly with a crop, the bacteria receive some food from the plant and, simultaneously, produce nitrogen that most plants need. However, Stacey found that many other crops recognize the bacteria, but do not attempt to interact closely with them.

Stacey and his team treated corn, soybeans, tomatoes and other plants to see how they responded when exposed to the chemical signal from the rhizobia bacteria. They found that the plants did receive the signal and, like legumes, inhibited the normal plant immune system. However, soybeans, corn and these other plants don't complete the extra step of forming nodules to allow the bacteria to thrive. "The important finding was that these other plants didn't just ignore the rhizobia bacteria. They recognized it, but just activated a different mechanism. Our next step is to determine how we can make the plants understand that this is a beneficial relationship and get them to activate a different mechanism that will produce the nodules that attract the bacteria instead of trying to fight them." Stacey said.

For more information about this research, read the news release at: http://cafnrnews.com/2013/09/a-little-less-nitrogen/.