What do you understand by symbiotic nitrogen fixation? Describe the role of leghaemoglobin in nitrogen fixation. Outline the process of nitrogen fixation as it takes place in the bacteroid inhabiting a legume nodule.
What do you understand by symbiotic nitrogen fixation? Describe the role of leghaemoglobin in nitrogen fixation. Outline the process of nitrogen fixation as it takes place in the bacteroid inhabiting a legume nodule.
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is the process of nitrogen fixation that occurs in plants within their tissues. The best example is the association between legumes and bacteria in the genus Rhizobium. This relationship benefits both the organisms and it is known as mutualism.
The rhizobia and legure are mutually dependant to each other. The legume is helpful to the rhizobia that it supplies nutrients to the bacteroids with which they synthesize the large amounts of ATP which is needed to convert the nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3)
Also, legume supplies one of the critical components of nitrogenase.
The bacteroids require oxygen to make their ATP. However, nitrogenase is strongly inhibited by oxygen. Nodules are filled with hemoglobin. So, the hemoglobin of the legume called the leghemoglobin supplies the required concentration of oxygen to the bacteroids.
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is the process of nitrogen fixation that occurs in plants within their tissues. The best example is the association between legumes and bacteria in the genus Rhizobium. This relationship benefits both the organisms and it is known as mutualism.
The rhizobia and legure are mutually dependant to each other. The legume is helpful to the rhizobia that it supplies nutrients to the bacteroids with which they synthesize the large amounts of ATP which is needed to convert the nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3)
Also, legume supplies one of the critical components of nitrogenase.
The bacteroids require oxygen to make their ATP. However, nitrogenase is strongly inhibited by oxygen. Nodules are filled with hemoglobin. So, the hemoglobin of the legume called the leghemoglobin supplies the required concentration of oxygen to the bacteroids.
