TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges to rhizobial adaptability in a changing climate
T2 - Genetic engineering solutions for stress tolerance
AU - Zhang, Yunjia
AU - Ku, Yee-Shan
AU - Cheung, Tsz-Yan
AU - Cheng, Sau-Shan
AU - Xin, Dawei
AU - Gombeau, Kewin
AU - Cai, Yizhi
AU - Lam, Hon-Ming
AU - Chan, Ting-Fung
N1 - Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - Rhizobia interact with leguminous plants in the soil to form nitrogen fixing nodules in which rhizobia and plant cells coexist. Although there are emerging studies on rhizobium-associated nitrogen fixation in cereals, the legume-rhizobium interaction is more well-studied and usually serves as the model to study rhizobium-mediated nitrogen fixation in plants. Rhizobia play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle in many ecosystems. However, rhizobia are highly sensitive to variations in soil conditions and physicochemical properties (i.e. moisture, temperature, salinity, pH, and oxygen availability). Such variations directly caused by global climate change are challenging the adaptive capabilities of rhizobia in both natural and agricultural environments. Although a few studies have identified rhizobial genes that confer adaptation to different environmental conditions, the genetic basis of rhizobial stress tolerance remains poorly understood. In this review, we highlight the importance of improving the survival of rhizobia in soil to enhance their symbiosis with plants, which can increase crop yields and facilitate the establishment of sustainable agricultural systems. To achieve this goal, we summarize the key challenges imposed by global climate change on rhizobium-plant symbiosis and collate current knowledge of stress tolerance-related genes and pathways in rhizobia. And finally, we present the latest genetic engineering approaches, such as synthetic biology, implemented to improve the adaptability of rhizobia to changing environmental conditions.
AB - Rhizobia interact with leguminous plants in the soil to form nitrogen fixing nodules in which rhizobia and plant cells coexist. Although there are emerging studies on rhizobium-associated nitrogen fixation in cereals, the legume-rhizobium interaction is more well-studied and usually serves as the model to study rhizobium-mediated nitrogen fixation in plants. Rhizobia play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle in many ecosystems. However, rhizobia are highly sensitive to variations in soil conditions and physicochemical properties (i.e. moisture, temperature, salinity, pH, and oxygen availability). Such variations directly caused by global climate change are challenging the adaptive capabilities of rhizobia in both natural and agricultural environments. Although a few studies have identified rhizobial genes that confer adaptation to different environmental conditions, the genetic basis of rhizobial stress tolerance remains poorly understood. In this review, we highlight the importance of improving the survival of rhizobia in soil to enhance their symbiosis with plants, which can increase crop yields and facilitate the establishment of sustainable agricultural systems. To achieve this goal, we summarize the key challenges imposed by global climate change on rhizobium-plant symbiosis and collate current knowledge of stress tolerance-related genes and pathways in rhizobia. And finally, we present the latest genetic engineering approaches, such as synthetic biology, implemented to improve the adaptability of rhizobia to changing environmental conditions.
KW - Rhizobium/genetics
KW - Climate Change
KW - Symbiosis
KW - Stress, Physiological
KW - Genetic Engineering
KW - Nitrogen Fixation/genetics
KW - Soil Microbiology
KW - Fabaceae/microbiology
KW - Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
KW - Soil/chemistry
KW - Plants/microbiology
U2 - 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127886
DO - 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127886
M3 - Review article
C2 - 39232483
SN - 0944-5013
VL - 288
SP - 127886
JO - Microbiological Research
JF - Microbiological Research
ER -