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Tansley Review No. 116: Cyanobacterium-plant symbioses
A N Rai1, E Söderbäck1, B Bergman1
11 Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-793022, India.
The New Phytologist
|April 17, 2021
Summary
Cyanobacteria form nitrogen-fixing symbioses with diverse plants, evolving specialized structures for nutrient exchange. These stable associations, crucial for plant growth, offer potential for agricultural and biotechnological applications.
Area of Science:
- Plant-Microbe Interactions
- Symbiotic Biology
- Cyanobacterial Research
Background:
- Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes capable of oxygenic photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.
- They form symbiotic relationships with various hosts, including plants, evolving over millions of years.
- These symbioses are critical for nutrient cycling and ecosystem health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of cyanobacterial-plant symbioses, focusing on recent advancements.
- To discuss the initiation, development, diversity, and evolutionary aspects of these symbiotic relationships.
- To explore the potential applications of cyanobacterial-plant symbioses in agriculture and biotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research (past 10 years) on cyanobacterial-plant symbioses.
- Analysis of symbiotic mechanisms, including recognition, signaling, and nutrient exchange.
- Discussion of evolutionary trajectories and potential for artificial symbiosis.
Main Results:
- Cyanobacterial-plant symbioses involve specific host-cyanobiont pairings, with cyanobionts residing in specialized host structures.
- Symbioses exhibit stability across environmental conditions, with mechanisms ensuring synchronized growth and nutrient transfer.
- While mostly facultative, some symbioses are obligate, with cyanobionts undergoing structural and functional modifications.
Conclusions:
- Cyanobacterial-plant symbioses are diverse, stable, and functionally integrated associations with significant ecological roles.
- Understanding these symbioses can lead to improved agricultural practices, such as enhanced green manure and biofertilizers.
- Future research should focus on artificial symbiosis and manipulating cyanobacteria for bio-production of ammonia and hydrogen.
Keywords:
AzollaGunneraartificial symbiosescyanobacterial-plant symbioseslichensplant-microbe interactionssymbiotic N2 fixationMore Related Videos
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