Biotech Updates

NSF Awards Research Grant to Improve Nitrogen Fixation of Legumes

May 28, 2010

The National Science Foundation of the United States has awarded $1.7million research grant to Professor of plant pathology Dr. Douglas Cook at the University of California, Davis and Dr. Rajeev Varshney at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The research grant will be used to improve the nitrogen fixation of legumes such as chickpea, pigeonpeas, beans, peanuts and alfalfa.

The researchers aim to help poor farmers decrease their production expenses, particularly their budget for nitrogen fertilizer. According to ICRISAT Director General Dr. William Dar, the research will focus on identifying genes that control the nitrogen-fixing mechanism of legume crops. They will use the latest DNA technologies and molecular-genetic analysis for studying those genes. Their findings will be used to develop traditional and molecular breeding programs for improved legume crops.

Read ICRISAT's press release at http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/news-releases/icrisat-pr-2010-media8.htm.