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Review Article|26 Nov 2024|OPEN
Nutrient-dependent regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes
Yanlin Ma1 , Chengbin Xiao2 , Jianquan Liu1 and Guangpeng Ren,1 ,
1State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
2MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
*Corresponding author. E-mail: rengp@lzu.edu.cn

Horticulture Research 12,
Article number: uhae321 (2025)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae321
Views: 1580

Received: 15 Aug 2024
Accepted: 11 Nov 2024
Published online: 26 Nov 2024

Abstract

Mineral nutrients are essential for plant growth and development, playing a critical role in the mutualistic symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. Legumes have evolved intricate signaling pathways that respond to various mineral nutrients, selectively activating genes involved in nodulation and nutrient uptake during symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Key minerals, including nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus, are vital throughout the SNF process, influencing signal recognition, nodule formation, the regulation of nodule numbers, and the prevention of nodule early senescence. Here, we review recent advancements in nutrient-dependent regulation of root nodule symbiosis, focusing on the systemic autoregulation of nodulation in nitrate-dependent symbiosis, the roles of nodule inception-like proteins, and the function of essential nutrients and their associated transporters in legume symbiosis. Additionally, we discuss several key research areas that require further exploration to deepen our understanding of nutrient-dependent mechanisms in SNF.