General information on the symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Isolation, identification and counting of rhizobia. Production of an inoculant and inoculation of legumes. Experiments.
Rhizobia are bacteria which inhabit the roots of plants in the pea family and "fix" atmospheric nitrogen for plant growth. They are thus of enormous economic importance internationally and the subject of intense research interest. Handbook for Rhizobia is a monumental book of practical methods for working with these bacteria and their plant hosts. Topics include the general microbiological properties of rhizobia and their identification, their potential as symbionts, methods for inoculating rhizobia onto plants, and molecular genetics methods for Rhizobium in the laboratory. The book will be invaluable to Rhizobium scientists, soil microbiologists, field and laboratory researchers at agricultural research centers, agronomists, and crop scientists.
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.
This Manual Is Intended To The Undergraduate And Post-Graduate Students In Microbiology As Well As Botany And Zoology In Which Microbiology Is Being Taught As Ancillary Subject. This Manual Explains Exercises In Simple Terms With Sufficient Background And Principle Of The Experiments. Illustrations Are Provided Along With The Protocols For Effective Understanding The Experiments. This Manual Deals With The Experiments In Basic Microbiology, Microbial Physiology Metabolism, Soil, Agricultural, Water And Medical Microbiology. It Is Expected That Beginners And Graduate Students In Microbiology Will Be Benefited From This Manual.
Details the various physiological responses in plants caused by microbially derived phytohormones--examining the microbial synthesis of the five primary classes of plant hormones. Exploring novel methods for improving symbiotic associations vital for plant growth and development.
The development of recombinant DNA technology has created a new upsurge of interest in biotechnology--the harnessing of micro-organisms and plant microbial cells for the production of specific materials of direct use to man or for the improvement of the environment. Discussing both traditional and emerging aspects of the science, this unique book reviews numerous exciting applications of biotechnology in developing countries, emphasizing that a small improvement in energy efficiency, utilization, or generation may have far-reaching effects in improving the quality of life of people in poor communities.
Sustainability has a major part to play in the global challenge of continued development of regions, countries, and continents all around the World and biological nitrogen fixation has a key role in this process. This volume begins with chapters specifically addressing crops of major global importance, such as soybeans, rice, and sugar cane. It continues with a second important focus, agroforestry, and describes the use and promise of both legume trees with their rhizobial symbionts and other nitrogen-fixing trees with their actinorhizal colonization. An over-arching theme of all chapters is the interaction of the plants and trees with microbes and this theme allows other aspects of soil microbiology, such as interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the impact of soil-stress factors on biological nitrogen fixation, to be addressed. Furthermore, a link to basic science occurs through the inclusion of chapters describing the biogeochemically important nitrogen cycle and its key relationships among nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. The volume then provides an up-to-date view of the production of microbial inocula, especially those for legume crops.
During the last decades, soil organic carbon (SOC) attracted the attention of a much wider array of specialists beyond agriculture and soil science, as it was proven to be one of the most crucial components of the earth’s climate system, which has a great potential to be managed by humans. Soils as a carbon pool are one of the key factors in several Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 15, “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” with the SOC stock being explicitly cited in Indicator 15.3.1. This technical manual is the first attempt to gather, in a standardized format, the existing data on the impacts of the main soil management practices on SOC content in a wide array of environments, including the advantages, drawbacks and constraints. This manual presents different sustainable soil management (SSM) practices at different scales and in different contexts, supported by case studies that have been shown with quantitative data to have a positive effect on SOC stocks and successful experiences of SOC sequestration in practical field applications. Volume 5 includes 24 practices that have a direct impact on SOC sequestration and maintenance in forestry, wetlands and urban soils.