symbiosis Archives

Plant life partners: Beneficial bacteria

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The evolution of terrestrial plants from aquatic ecosystems came with challenges: adaptation to survive the harsh environments, and co-evolution with other life, such as bacteria. Bacteria are one of the most ancient forms of life on earth, and amount to about 13% of total biomass (measured as tonnes of carbon) seen on our planet. Land plants have evolved positive relationships […]

Symbiotically competent cyanobacteria for the bio-sustainable cultivation of rice

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The researchers tested the interactions of several Nostoc strains in laboratory conditions.

Every year, large amounts of nitrogen fertilisers are used around the world to sustain the cultivation of rice. The wetland culture conditions required for rice cause nitrogen to leach and contaminate freshwater, triggering a number of adverse consequences for aquatic habitats. Dr Consolación Álvarez and Dr Vicente Mariscal Romero, from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain, propose the development […]

Crossing kingdoms between plants, fungi and bacteria

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A crushed spore of the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Claroideoglomus claroideum, stained with the fluorescent dyes SYTO BC and propidium iodide. The image shows a cloud of endobacteria (in green) being released from the spore together with fungal nuclei (in red). Photograph by Maria Naumann and Paola Bonfante, University of Torino

Professor Teresa Pawlowska and her team from the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University have performed an in-depth study on the evolutionary genomics of the recently discovered mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE). They are currently in the process of investigating the complex interrelationship between these endobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their host – terrestrial plants. This is one of […]