Genetic Aspects of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

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Gene Manipulation in Plant Improvement

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Abstract

Nitrogen fixation is the reduction of molecular dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia. This process, along with nitrate reduction, brings nitrogen from inorganic form into the organic world, for ammonia is the form of nitrogen which can be assimilated into amino acids. Fixed nitrogen is generated chemically by the Haber process, in which gaseous nitrogen and hydrogen are combined at high temperature and pressure to yield ammonia. This industrial process provides most of the ammonium fertilizer used in agriculture, and consumes vast amounts of petrochemical fuel every year (Postgate, 1982).

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© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

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Long, S.R. (1984). Genetic Aspects of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation. In: Gustafson, J.P. (eds) Gene Manipulation in Plant Improvement. Stadler Genetics Symposia Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2429-4_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2429-4_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9478-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2429-4

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