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Long-distance control of nodulation: Molecules and models

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Molecules and Cells

Abstract

Legume plants develop root nodules to recruit nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. This symbiotic relationship allows the host plants to grow even under nitrogen limiting environment. Since nodule development is an energetically expensive process, the number of nodules should be tightly controlled by the host plants. For this purpose, legume plants utilize a long-distance signaling known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). AON signaling in legumes has been extensively studied over decades but the underlying molecular mechanism had been largely unclear until recently. With the advent of the model legumes, L. japonicus and M. truncatula, we have been seeing a great progress including isolation of the AON-associated receptor kinase. Here, we summarize recent studies on AON and discuss an updated view of the long-distance control of nodulation.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Shimpei Magori & Masayoshi Kawaguchi

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  1. Shimpei Magori
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  2. Masayoshi Kawaguchi
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Correspondence to Masayoshi Kawaguchi.

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Magori, S., Kawaguchi, M. Long-distance control of nodulation: Molecules and models. Mol Cells 27, 129–134 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10059-009-0016-0

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