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Introduction: Assessing opportunities for nitrogen fixation in rice — a frontier project

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Opportunities for Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Rice and Other Non-Legumes

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 75))

Abstract

Recent advances in understanding symbiotic Rhizobium-legume interactions at the molecular level, the discovery of endophytic interactions of nitrogen-fixing organisms with non-legumes, and the ability to introduce genes into rice by transformation have stimulated researchers world wide to harness opportunities for nitrogen fixation and improved N nutrition in rice. In a think-tank workshop organized by IRRT in 1992, the participants reaffirmed that such opportunities do exist for cereals and recommended that rice be used as a model system. Subsequently, IRRI developed a New Frontier Project to coordinate the worldwide collaborative efforts among research centers committed to reducing dependency of rice on mineral N resources. An international Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) working group was established to review, share research results/materials and to catalyze research.

The strategies of enabling rice to fix its own N are complex and of a long-term nature. However, if achieved, they could enhance rice productivity, resource conservation, and environmental security. The rate of obtaining success would, of course, benefit tremendously from concerted efforts from a critical mass of committed scientists around the world, as well as a constant and continued funding support from the “donor” community.

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J. K. Ladha F. J. de Bruijn K. A. Malik

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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Ladha, J.K., de Bruijn, F.J., Malik, K.A. (1997). Introduction: Assessing opportunities for nitrogen fixation in rice — a frontier project. In: Ladha, J.K., de Bruijn, F.J., Malik, K.A. (eds) Opportunities for Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Rice and Other Non-Legumes. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 75. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7113-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7113-7_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-4748-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7113-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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