This important book provides a comprehensive review of our current knowledge of the world's leguminous plants and their symbiotic bacteria. Written by Professor Janet Sprent, a world authority in the area, Legume Nodulation contains comprehensive details of the following: An up to date review of legume taxonomy and a full list of the world's genera Details of how legumes are distributed throughout the world A review of the evolution of legume nodulation Comprehensive details of all microorganisms known to be symbiotic with legumes Ecological and environmental aspects of legume-bacteria symbiosis Legume Nodulation is an essential purchase for plant scientists, agronomists, ecologists and microbiologists. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where biological and agricultural sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this landmark publication.

During the past three decades there has been a large amount of research on biological nitrogen fixation, in part stimulated by increasing world prices of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and environmental concerns. In the last several years, research on plant--microbe interactions, and symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation has become truly interdisciplinary in nature, stimulated to some degree by the use of modern genetic techniques. These methodologies have allowed us to make detailed analyses of plant and bacterial genes involved in symbiotic processes and to follow the growth and persistence of the root-nodule bacteria and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soils. Through the efforts of a large number of researchers we now have a better understanding of the ecology of rhizobia, environmental parameters affecting the infection and nodulation process, the nature of specificity, the biochemistry of host plants and microsymbionts, and chemical signalling between symbiotic partners. This volume gives a summary of current research efforts and knowledge in the field of biological nitrogen fixation. Since the research field is diverse in nature, this book presents a collection of papers in the major research area of physiology and metabolism, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, ecology, and international programs.

Rhizobia are bacteria which inhabit the roots of plants in the pea family and "fix" atmospheric nitrogen for plant growth. They are thus of enormous economic importance internationally and the subject of intense research interest. Handbook for Rhizobia is a monumental book of practical methods for working with these bacteria and their plant hosts. Topics include the general microbiological properties of rhizobia and their identification, their potential as symbionts, methods for inoculating rhizobia onto plants, and molecular genetics methods for Rhizobium in the laboratory. The book will be invaluable to Rhizobium scientists, soil microbiologists, field and laboratory researchers at agricultural research centers, agronomists, and crop scientists.

General information on the symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Isolation, identification and counting of rhizobia. Production of an inoculant and inoculation of legumes. Experiments.

The Nitrogen-Fixing Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis, Volume 94, the latest release in the Advances in Botanical Research series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on The diversity of legume-rhizobium symbioses, Parasponia; an evolutionary outlier of rhizobium symbiosis, Rhizobium diversity in the light of evolution, Genomes of rhizobia, Gene regulation by extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors in alpha-rhizobia, Early symbiotic signaling between Plant and Bacteria, Rhizobia infection, a journey to the inside of plant cells, Differentiation of symbiotic nodule cells and their rhizobium endosymbionts, Nodule Organogenesis, Nitrogen Fixation by the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis, and much more.

"The aim of this book is to provide an up-to-date picture of the nodulation status of legumes, using largely the same taxonomic system as its companion volume 'Legumes of the World'."--Back cover.

Plants and animals have evolved ever since their appearance in a largely microbial world. Their own cells are less numerous than the microorganisms that they host and with whom they interact closely. The study of these interactions, termed microbial symbioses, has benefited from the development of new conceptual and technical tools. We are gaining an increasing understanding of the functioning, evolution and central importance of symbiosis in the biosphere. Since the origin of eukaryotic cells, microscopic organisms of our planet have integrated our very existence into their ways of life. The interaction between host and symbiont brings into question the notion of the individual and the traditional representation of the evolution of species, and the manipulation of symbioses facilitates fascinating new perspectives in biotechnology and health. Recent discoveries show that association is one of the main properties of organisms, making a more integrated view of biology necessary. Microbial Symbioses provides a deliberately "symbiocentric outlook, to exhibit how the exploration of microbial symbioses enriches our understanding of life, and the potential future for this discipline. - Offers a concise summary of the most recent discoveries in the field - Shows how symbiosis is acquiring a central role in the biology of the 21st century by transforming our understanding of living things - Presents scientific issues, but also societal and economic related issues (biodiversity, biotechnology) through examples from all branches of the tree of life

The world population will grow more rapidly during the few coming years. This must be accompanied by a parallel increase in the agricultural production to secure adequate food. Sustainability considerations mandate that alternatives to chemical nitrogen fertilizers must be urgently sought. Biological nitrogen (N2) fixation, a microbiological process which converts atmospheric N2 into a plant-usable form, offers this alternative. Among these renewable sources, N2-fixing legumes offer an economically attractive and ecologically sound means of reducing external inputs and improving internal resources. Environmental factors such as drought, elevated temperature, salinity, soil acidity and rising CO2 are known to dramatically affect the symbiotic process and thus play a part in determining the actual amount of nitrogen fixed by a given legume in the field. Understanding how nodule N2 fixation responds to the environment is crucial for improving legume production and maintaining sustainability in the context of global change. In this thoughtful and provocative new Brief, we provide critical information on how current and projected future changes in the environment will affect legume growth and their symbiotic N2 fixing capabilities. Each section reviews the main drivers of environmental change on the legume performance that include drought, elevated temperature, salinity and rising CO2, and soil acidity. Importantly we discuss the molecular approaches to the analysis of the stress response in legumes and the possible biotechnological strategies to overcome their detrimental effects.

"In July 2005, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew published Legumes of the World, a book containing an encyclopaedic overview of the current knowledge of the 727 genera then recognised in the Leguminose (Fabaceae) family. This was the first fully-illustrated account of all legume genera. Legumes of the World was edited by four members of Kew's Herbarium legume research staff: Gwilym Lewis, Brian Schrire, Barbara Mackinder and Mike Lock (Brian and Mike have since retired). 20 legume specialists from 14 institutions in six countries contributed to the 36 chapters in the book."--Publisher description.

Biological nitrogen fixation has essential role in N cycle in global ecosystem. Several types of nitrogen fixing bacteria are recognized: the free-living bacteria in soil or water; symbiotic bacteria making root nodules in legumes or non-legumes; associative nitrogen fixing bacteria that resides outside the plant roots and provides fixed nitrogen to the plants; endophytic nitrogen fixing bacteria living in the roots, stems and leaves of plants. In this book there are 11 chapters related to biological nitrogen fixation, regulation of legume-rhizobium symbiosis, and agriculture and ecology of biological nitrogen fixation, including new models for autoregulation of nodulation in legumes, endophytic nitrogen fixation in sugarcane or forest trees, etc. Hopefully, this book will contribute to biological, ecological, and agricultural sciences.