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Agricultural opportunities from nitrogen fixation research

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Biotechnology for Solving Agricultural Problems

Part of the book series: Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research ((BSAR,volume 10))

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Abstract

Most applied nitrogen fixation research currently conducted focuses on the important legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. Progress is being made towards increasing the level of nitrogenase activity in the nodule, increasing the flow of carbon to the nodule, decreasing the waste of electrons through hydrogen evolution and increasing the competitiveness of useful Rhizobium strains. Because of the intimate association between Rhizobium and the root, Rhizobium strains with certain foreign genes may be useful to protect the plant from certain pests. Opportunities from research with other nitrogen-fixing bacteria include several approaches aimed towards obtaining cereal plants with the capability to fix nitrogen. Direct genetic engineering of nif genes as well as optimizing bacteria-root associations are being examined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agracetus, 8520 University Green, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562, USA

    Winston J. Brill

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  1. Winston J. Brill
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Parasitology Institute Protozoan Diseases Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Harry D. Danforth

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© 1986 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

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Brill, W.J. (1986). Agricultural opportunities from nitrogen fixation research. In: Augustine, P.C., Danforth, H.D., Bakst, M.R. (eds) Biotechnology for Solving Agricultural Problems. Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4396-4_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4396-4_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8455-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4396-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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