Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Plant–Microbe Interaction

Dear Colleagues,

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are a specialized group of prokaryotes that use their nitrogenase system to catalyze the conversion of dinitrogen gas (N₂) into ammonia. More than 90 percent of all nitrogen fixation is effected by these organisms, which thus play an important role in the nitrogen cycle. These bacteria specifically improve the growth and development of plants by supplying them with nitrogen; therefore, their survival and proliferation require their adaptation to the rhizosphere and host plant. Based on their relationship with the host plant, nitrogen-fixing bacteria are classified as symbiotic or associative. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) contributes approximately 200 million tons of nitrogen to the Earth's ecosystem annually and has been applied in agricultural production for almost a century. Thus, BNF is a low-cost alternative to chemical fertilizer, and its core theory and cutting-edge technology are currently a hot topic in the study of biology.

This Special Issue entitled “Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and plant–microbe interaction” aims to present recent research on any aspect of BNF. Focal points include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation;
• Non-legume nitrogen fixation;
• The interaction of nitrogen-fixing bacteria with plants;
• Synthetic biology research on nitrogen fixation.

Prof. Dr. Yongliang Yan
Prof. Dr. Chang-Fu Tian
Prof. Dr. Yuhua Zhan
Guest Editors

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• biological nitrogen fixation
• associative nitrogen fixation
• symbiosis
• rhizosphere
• soil microbiome
• rhizobia
• nitrogenase
• legume
• nodule
• plant–microbe interaction
• synthetic biology