Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Author: Gary S. Stacey

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 1992-04-30

Total Pages: 960

ISBN-13: 9780412024214

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Phylogenetic classification of nitrogen-fixing organisms. Physiology of nitrogen fixation in free-living heterotrophs. Nitrogen fixation by photosynthetic bacteria. Nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria. Nitrogen fixation by methanogenic bacteria. Associative nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Actinorhizal symbioses. Ecology of bradyrhizobium and rhizobium. The rhizobium infection process. Physiology of nitrogen-fixing legume nodules: compartments, and functions. Hydrogen cycling in symbiotic bacteria. Evolution of nitrogen-fixing symbioses. The rhizobium symbiosis of the nonlegume parasponia. Genetic analysis of rhizobium nodulation. Nodulins in root nodule development. Plant genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Molecular genetics of bradyrhizobium symbioses. The enzymology of molybdenum-dependent nitrogen fixation. Alternative nitrogen fixation systems. Biochemical genetics of nitrogenase. Regulation of nitrogen fixation genes in free-living and symbiotic bacteria. Isolated iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase.


Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen Fixation

Author: John Raymond Postgate

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1998-10-15

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 9780521648530

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book provides an introductory-level survey of biological nitrogen fixation, covering the role of the process in the global nitrogen cycle as well as its biochemistry, physiology, genetics, ecology, general biology and prospects for its future exploitation.


The Chemistry and Biochemistry of Nitrogen Fixation

The Chemistry and Biochemistry of Nitrogen Fixation

Author: J. Postgate

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 339

ISBN-13: 1468418181

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Understanding of biological nitrogen fixation has advanced with impressive rapidity during the last decade. As befits a developing area of Science, these advances have uncovered information and raised questions which will have, and indeed have had, repercussions in numerous other branches of science and its applications. This 'information explosion', to use one of to-day's cant idioms, was initiated by the discovery, by a group of scientists working in the Central Research laboratories of Dupont de Nemours, U. S. A. , of a reproducibly active, cell-free enzyme preparation from a nitrogen fixing bacterium. Full credit is due to them. But subsequent developments, albeit sometimes quite as impressive, have too often been marked by that familiar disorder of a developing field of research-the scramble to publish. It is a scramble which, at its best, may represent a laudable desire to inform colleagues of the latest developments; yet which too easily develops into an undignified rush for priority, wherewith to impress one's Board of Directors or Grant-giving Institution. This, in miniature, is the tragedy of scientific research to-day: desire for credit causes research to be published in little bulletins, notes and preliminary communications, so that only those intimately involved in the field really know what is happening (and even they may well not see the forest for the trees). Those outside the field, or working in peripheral areas, may glean something of what is going on from reviews and fragments presented at meetings, but the broad pattern of development is often elusive.


Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

Author: P. Graham

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 206

ISBN-13: 9401110883

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

During the past three decades there has been a large amount of research on biological nitrogen fixation, in part stimulated by increasing world prices of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and environmental concerns. In the last several years, research on plant--microbe interactions, and symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation has become truly interdisciplinary in nature, stimulated to some degree by the use of modern genetic techniques. These methodologies have allowed us to make detailed analyses of plant and bacterial genes involved in symbiotic processes and to follow the growth and persistence of the root-nodule bacteria and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soils. Through the efforts of a large number of researchers we now have a better understanding of the ecology of rhizobia, environmental parameters affecting the infection and nodulation process, the nature of specificity, the biochemistry of host plants and microsymbionts, and chemical signalling between symbiotic partners. This volume gives a summary of current research efforts and knowledge in the field of biological nitrogen fixation. Since the research field is diverse in nature, this book presents a collection of papers in the major research area of physiology and metabolism, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, ecology, and international programs.


Catalysts for Nitrogen Fixation

Catalysts for Nitrogen Fixation

Author: Barry E. Smith

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-03-20

Total Pages: 351

ISBN-13: 1402036116

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Biological nitrogen fixation provides more than 50% of the total annual input of the essential element nitrogen to world agriculture. Thus, it is of immense agronomic importance and critical to food supplies, particularly in developing countries. This book, with chapters authored by internationally renowned experts, provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the fascinating history of the process - including the surprising discoveries of molybdenum-independent nitrogenases and superoxide-dependent nitrogenase; a review of Man's attempts to emulate the biological process - most successfully with the commercially dominant Haber-Bosch process; and the current state of the understanding art with respect to the enzymes - called nitrogenases - responsible for biological nitrogen fixation. The initial chapters use a historical approach to the biological and industrial processes, followed by an overview of assay methodologies. The next set of chapters focuses on the classical enzyme, the molybdenum nitrogenase, and details its biosynthesis, structure, composition, and mechanism of action as well as detailing both how variants of its two component proteins are constructed by recombinant DNA technology and how computational techniques are being applied. The sophisticated chemical modelling of the metal-containing clusters in the enzyme is reviewed next, followed by a description of the two molybdenum-independent nitrogenases - first, the vanadium-containing enzyme and then the iron-only nitrogenase - together with some thoughts as to why they exist! Then follows an up-to-date treatment of the clearly "non-classical" properties of the superoxide-dependent nitrogenase, which more closely resembles molybdenum-containing hydroxylases and related enzymes, like nitrate reductase, that it does the other nitrogenases. Each chapter contains an extensive list of references. This book is the self-contained first volume of a comprehensive seven-volume series. No other available work provides the up-to-date and in-depth coverage of this series and this volume. This book is intended to serve as an indispensable reference work for all scientists working in this area, including agriculture and the closely related metals-in-biology area; to assist students to enter this challenging area of research; and to provide science administrators easy access to vital relevant information.


Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Beneficial Plant-Microbe Interaction

Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Beneficial Plant-Microbe Interaction

Author: Fernando González-Andrés

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-06-02

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 3319325280

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book covers the most recent advances in all the topics with which researchers and professionals need to be familiar in order to obtain a better understanding of, and to better exploit, beneficial plant-microbe interactions. The use of microorganisms for agriculture and environmental applications is gaining importance worldwide to improve crop performance, but also for other environmental applications, such as bioremediation in chemically polluted soils. The search for an equilibrium between fundamental and applied aspects makes this book useful for professionals at various levels in the value chain of the “microbial biofertilizers”. Challenges of comercializing biofertilizers involve efficiency of the products and safety for human health and the environment, topics that have paid central attention in this book. Students, scientists and biofertilizers developers will find updated and comprehensive information about the different aspects to be considered to address a successful introduction of biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture and environmental actions.


Advances in Biology and Ecology of Nitrogen Fixation

Advances in Biology and Ecology of Nitrogen Fixation

Author: Takuji Ohyama

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2014-01-29

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 9535112163

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Biological nitrogen fixation has essential role in N cycle in global ecosystem. Several types of nitrogen fixing bacteria are recognized: the free-living bacteria in soil or water; symbiotic bacteria making root nodules in legumes or non-legumes; associative nitrogen fixing bacteria that resides outside the plant roots and provides fixed nitrogen to the plants; endophytic nitrogen fixing bacteria living in the roots, stems and leaves of plants. In this book there are 11 chapters related to biological nitrogen fixation, regulation of legume-rhizobium symbiosis, and agriculture and ecology of biological nitrogen fixation, including new models for autoregulation of nodulation in legumes, endophytic nitrogen fixation in sugarcane or forest trees, etc. Hopefully, this book will contribute to biological, ecological, and agricultural sciences.


Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Sustainable Agriculture

Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Sustainable Agriculture

Author: J.K. Ladha

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-03-09

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 9401709106

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Chemical fertilizers have had a significant impact on food production in the recent past, and are today an indispensable part of modern agriculture. On the other hand, the oil crisis of the 1970s and the current Middle East problems are constant reminders of the vulnerability of our fossil fuel dependent agriculture. There are vast areas of the developing world where N fertilizers are neither available nor affordable and, in most of these countries, balance of payment problems have resulted in the removal of N fertilizer subsidies. The external costs of environmental degradation and human health far exceed economic concerns. Input efficiency of N fertilizer is one of the lowest and, in turn, contributes substantially to environmental pollution. Nitrate in ground and surface waters and the threat to the stability of the ozone layer from gaseous oxides of nitrogen are major health and environmental concerns. The removal of large quantities of crop produce from the land also depletes soil of its native N reserves. Another concern is the decline in crop yields under continuous use of N fertilizers. These economic, environmental and production considerations dictate that biological alternatives which can augment, and in some cases replace, N fertilizers must be exploited. Long-term sustainability of agricultural systems must rely on the use and effective management of internal resources. The process of biological nitrogen fixation offers and economically attractive and ecologically sound means of reducing external nitrogen input and improving the quality and quantity of internal resources. In this book, we outline sustainability issues that dictate an increased use of biological nitrogen fixation and the constraints on its optimal use in agriculture.


Biological Nitrogen Fixation for the 21st Century

Biological Nitrogen Fixation for the 21st Century

Author: Claudine Elmerich

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 1997-11-30

Total Pages: 732

ISBN-13: 9780792348344

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Nitrogen availability is one of the most critical factors that limits plant productivity. The largest reservoir of nitrogen is the atmosphere, but this gaseous molecular nitrogen only becomes available to plants through the biological nitrogen fixation process, which only prokaryotic cells have developed. The discovery that microbes were providing fixed nitrogen to legumes and the isolation of the first nitrogen-fixing bacteria occured at the end the 19th Century, in Louis Pasteur's time. We are now building on more than 100 years of research in this field and looking towards the 21st Century. The International Nitrogen Fixation Congress series Started more than 20 years ago. The format of this Congress is designed to gather scientists from very diverse origins, backgrounds, interests and scientific approaches and is a forum where fundamental knowledge is discussed alongside applied research. This confluence of perspectives is, we believe, extremely beneficial in raising new ideas, questions and concepts.