How rhizobium bacteria helps the plant to grow?


Rhizobia (sing. rhizobium) are root-nodule bacteria found in leguminous plants.

Leguminous plants, including important crops such as peas, beans and soybeans form a unique symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, by allowing them to infect their roots.

This leads to the formation of root nodule, where rhizobia are accommodated to convert nitrogen gas (N2) from the air into ammonia by using their specific enzyme called nitrogenase that is not found in plants or animals.

This ammonia is converted into plant protein, which helps plants to grow.

This symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria allows legumes to thrive in habitats with limited nitrogen availability.

Rhizobia reduce the need to use chemical fertilizers for crop production by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and at the same time also increases the nutritional value of important staple crops.

When the legume dies, the nodule breaks down and releases the rhizobia back into the soil where they can live individually or reinfect a new legume host.

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Simply Easy Learning

Updated on: 29-Mar-2023

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