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Azospirillum VI and Related Microorganisms pp 15–30Cite as

N2-fixation by endophytic bacteria: questions of entry and operation

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 37))

Abstract

Endophytic N2-fixing bacteria from several genera can enter plants through natural openings (stomata, hydathodes), natural and artificial wounds (points of emergence of roots, via vegetative propagation techniques) and also intact plant tissues. They may penetrate to xylem vessels or intercellular spaces, but there is no evidence that they can survive in healthy plant cells. The nutrition of endophytic bacteria in these various locations is discussed. It is concluded that subtle interactions between the C and N metabolisms of both host and endophyte may lead to significant N2 fixation without causing undue burdens on the host. There are good prospects for improving these associations by interdisciplinary laboratory and field studies involving both microbiologists and plant scientists.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Euan K. James

    Present address: Department of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AJ, Scotland UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK

    Janet I. Sprent & Euan K. James

Authors
  1. Janet I. Sprent
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  2. Euan K. James
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biophysics, University of Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, D-30419, Hannover, Germany

    Istvàn Fendrik

  2. Department of Food Technology, Environmental and Microbiological Sciences, University of Molise, Via Tiberio 21, I-86100, Campobasso, Italy

    Maddalena del Gallo

  3. F. A. Janssens Laboratory of Genetics Department of Applied Plant Sciences, K. U. Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Jos Vanderleyden

  4. Département des Biotechnologies, Institut Pasteur, Unité de Physiologie Cellulaire, CNRS URA 1300, F-75724, Paris Cedex 15, France

    Miklos de Zamaroczy

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Sprent, J.I., James, E.K. (1995). N2-fixation by endophytic bacteria: questions of entry and operation. In: Fendrik, I., del Gallo, M., Vanderleyden, J., de Zamaroczy, M. (eds) Azospirillum VI and Related Microorganisms. NATO ASI Series, vol 37. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79906-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79906-8_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-79908-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79906-8

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