explain the process in detail how blue green algae fixses atmosperic nitrogen to soil?
explain the process in detail how blue green algae fixses atmosperic nitrogen to soil?
Different blue green algae have different mechanisms to perform nitrogen fixation. The main enzyme which performs nitrogen fixation in all blue green algae is called Nitrogenase. This enzyme can work only in the absence of oxygen and it catalyses the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia or nitrates. So, the major concern of nitrogen fixing blue green algae is to prevent nitrogenase enzyme from oxygen, and they do this by various mechanisms. Some of these are:
1) Heterocyst formation: Certain Cyanobacteria like Nostoc form heterocyst, which are specialized cells for nitrogen fixation. These are the centers for nitrogen fixation and nitrogenase is stored in these cells, away from oxygen.
2) Form colonies: They form large colonies, where specific internal areas are kept free of oxygen. Nitrogenase is kept in these areas such that nitrogen fixation can occur.
3) Symbiosis: Some Cyanobacteria can form symbiotic associations with plants to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Different blue green algae have different mechanisms to perform nitrogen fixation. The main enzyme which performs nitrogen fixation in all blue green algae is called Nitrogenase. This enzyme can work only in the absence of oxygen and it catalyses the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia or nitrates. So, the major concern of nitrogen fixing blue green algae is to prevent nitrogenase enzyme from oxygen, and they do this by various mechanisms. Some of these are:
1) Heterocyst formation: Certain Cyanobacteria like Nostoc form heterocyst, which are specialized cells for nitrogen fixation. These are the centers for nitrogen fixation and nitrogenase is stored in these cells, away from oxygen.
2) Form colonies: They form large colonies, where specific internal areas are kept free of oxygen. Nitrogenase is kept in these areas such that nitrogen fixation can occur.
3) Symbiosis: Some Cyanobacteria can form symbiotic associations with plants to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
