Engineered nanomaterials and symbiotic dinitrogen fixation in legumes
2018
Holden, Patricia A. | Mortimer, Monika | Wang, Ying
Whether through agrochemical use, waste disposal, or air deposition, engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) enter agricultural soils: affecting plants, soil microorganisms, and plant-microbe symbioses. Among plant-microbe symbioses, leguminous root nodules are important because they biologically fix atmospheric dinitrogen (nitrogen). Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) decreases the need for synthetic nitrogenous fertilizer. However, ENMs may perturb SNF plant-microbe symbioses. This review focuses on the “wicked” situation whereby some ENMs offer new advances—including in energy efficiency and precision agriculture—yet, when they interfere with SNF, other ENMs could exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication. Where—in the plant-microbe-soil system—is SNF vulnerable to ENMs? Multiple pathways could manifest simultaneously. Mechanisms should be understood, so that future ENM applications are compatible with leguminous SNF.
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