title: The value of biodiversity in legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodulation for biofuel and food production.
abstract: Much of modern agriculture is based on immense populations of genetically identical or near-identical varieties, called cultivars. However, advancement of knowledge, and thus experimental utility, is found through biodiversity, whether naturally-found or induced by the experimenter. Globally we are confronted by ever-growing food and energy challenges. Here we demonstrate how such biodiversity from the food legume crop soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) and the bioenergy legume tree Pongamia (Millettia) pinnata is a great value. Legume plants are diverse and are represented by over 18,000 species on this planet. Some, such as soybean, pea and medics are used as food and animal feed crops. Others serve as ornamental (e.g., wisteria), timber (e.g., acacia/wattle) or biofuel (e.g., Pongamia pinnata) resources. Most legumes develop root organs (nodules) after microsymbiont induction that serve as their habitat for biological nitrogen fixation. Through this, nitrogen fertiliser demand is reduced by the efficient symbiosis between soil Rhizobium-type bacteria and the appropriate legume partner. Mechanistic research into the genetics, biochemistry and physiology of legumes is thus strategically essential for future global agriculture. Here we demonstrate how molecular plant science analysis of the genetics of an established food crop (soybean) and an emerging biofuel P. pinnata feedstock contributes to their utility by sustainable production aided by symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: p.gresshoff@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gresshoff
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Bandana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia; Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Arief
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Indrasumunar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Dugald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tollenaere
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Hameren
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hastwell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Centre for Integrative Legume Research (CILR), and School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D044822:Biodiversity; D056804:Biofuels; D014644:Genetic Variation; D033641:Millettia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels
keywords: Genetics; Legumes; Peak oil; Sustainability; Symbiosis