The bacteria colonize plant cells to form root nodules, where they convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia using the enzyme nitrogenase. The ammonia is shared with the host plant in the form of organic nitrogenous compounds such as glutamine or ureides.[3] The plant, in turn, provides the bacteria with organic compounds made by photosynthesis. This mutually beneficial relationship is true of all of the rhizobia, of which the genus Rhizobium is a typical example.[4]Rhizobium is also capable of solubilizing phosphate.[5]
Rhizobium forms a symbiotic relationship with certain plants, such as legumes, fixing nitrogen from the air into ammonia, which acts as a natural fertilizer for the plants. The Agricultural Research Service is conducting research involving the genetic mapping of various rhizobial species with their respective symbiotic plant species, like alfalfa or soybean. The goal of this research is to increase the plants' productivity without using fertilizers.[7]
In molecular biology, Rhizobium has been identified as a contaminant of DNA extraction kit reagents and ultrapure water systems, which may lead to its erroneous appearance in microbiota or metagenomic datasets.[8] The presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria as contaminants may be due to the use of nitrogen gas in ultra-pure water production to inhibit microbial growth in storage tanks.[9]
Species
The genus Rhizobium comprises the following species:-[10]
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