Search for nodulation in rice: research trends

Abstract

Nitrogen is an essential plant nutrient and the high yielding varieties of rice needs it more. But most of the paddy land is deficient of this component. Therefore the high yielding varieties of rice are dependent on exogenous supply of nitrogen while in consideration to both ecological and economical aspects exogenous supply of nitrogen is not desirable. Hence, in recent times, the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is preferred. Among BNFs, rhizobia-leguminous symbiosis fascinated scientists as a model for developing the same or a similar nitrogen acquisition system in cereals including in rice. Therefore, search for legume like symbiosis in rice has been envisaged as one of the major goal of BNF research. Strategies includes, detection of nodules and nodule-like structures in rice in nature, if any; trials on forced nodulation in rice; and exploring the possibility of transferring of nodule genes in (to) rice. Research trends of these have been reviewed in this article.