Question

Explain the role of the pink pigment in the root nodule of legume plants. What is it called?

Answer 1

There are nodules in the roots of the leguminous plants. The bacterium of the Rhizobium spp. are responsible for the formation of these nodules. The nodules appear pink in colour due to the presence of leghemoglobin. This is an iron-containing pigment which is pinkish in color. The pigment is responsible to scavenge oxygen for the functioning of the enzyme nitrogenase in nitrogen fixation.