Breakthrough May Cut back Dependence on Artificial Fertilizer

Researchers have taken a serious step towards understanding how sure vegetation can thrive with out chemically produced nitrogen. A breakthrough that might finally cut back the necessity for synthetic fertilizers in crops corresponding to wheat, maize, and rice.

“We are one step closer to achieving a greener and more climate-friendly food production,” say Professors Kasper Røjkjær Andersen and Simona Radutoiu from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University.

The two researchers have led a brand new examine that uncovers a key mechanism in lowering agriculture’s dependence on artificial fertilizers.

Plants want nitrogen to develop – a nutrient most crops can solely acquire by way of fertilization. However, a couple of vegetation, corresponding to peas, clover, and beans, can handle with out it. They stay in symbiosis with particular micro organism that convert nitrogen from the air right into a type the plant can use.

Today, scientists world wide are working to know the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind this course of, with the long-term purpose of transferring the trait to different crops corresponding to wheat, barley, and maize.

If profitable, vegetation may grow to be self-sufficient in nitrogen, lowering the necessity for synthetic fertilizers, which presently account for about two p.c of world power consumption and emit massive quantities of CO₂.

Now, researchers from Aarhus University have recognized precisely which small modifications in plant receptors trigger them to modify from activating their immune defenses to as an alternative initiating symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing micro organism, which is a exceptional and necessary discovery, emphasizes Simona Radutoiu.

Friend or foe?

Plants use receptors on the floor of their cells to detect indicators from microorganisms within the soil. Some micro organism sign “enemies,” triggering the plant’s protection mechanisms, whereas others sign “friends,” serving to the plant acquire vitamins.

Leguminous vegetation corresponding to peas, beans, and clover invite particular micro organism into their roots. These micro organism can convert nitrogen from the air and cross it on to the plant. This partnership, referred to as symbiosis, permits legumes to develop with out artificial fertilizers.

In their new examine, researchers from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics found that this potential is basically ruled by simply two amino acids – two small “building blocks” in a protein situated within the plant’s roots.

This protein acts as a receptor that perceives bacterial indicators and decides whether or not the plant ought to sound the alarm (activate immunity) or welcome the micro organism (begin symbiosis).

The researchers recognized a small area within the protein, which they named Symbiosis Determinant 1. It capabilities like a swap that determines which message is transmitted contained in the plant cell. By altering simply two amino acids on this swap, the researchers have been in a position to rework a receptor that usually triggers immune protection into one which initiates symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing micro organism.

“We’ve shown that just two small changes can make plants alter their behavior in a crucial way from rejecting bacteria to cooperating with them,” explains Simona Radutoiu.

Goal: Transfer the trait to wheat, barley, and maize

In the brand new examine, the modification was carried out within the plant Lotus japonicus. But the identical precept was additionally discovered to use in barley. “It’s quite remarkable that we can now take a receptor from barley, make the corresponding small changes, and see nitrogen fixation restored,” says Kasper Røjkjær Andersen.

The implications are vital. If this new understanding will be transferred to different crops, it may someday be potential to provide cereals corresponding to wheat, maize, and rice the power to repair nitrogen themselves identical to legumes do at the moment.

“But there are still other essential keys we need to find first,” notes Simona Radutoiu, including:

“Only very few crops can form symbiosis today. If we can extend this ability to staple crops, it could make a real difference in how much nitrogen agriculture requires.”

Such a improvement may revolutionize farming by lowering dependence on artificial fertilizers, chopping CO₂ emissions, and making meals manufacturing extra sustainable.

Years of collaboration

The breakthrough is the results of years of collaboration and devoted work by a big analysis staff at Aarhus University. The major physique of experimental work was carried out by Magdalini Tsitsikli, Bine Wissendorf Simonsen and Thi Bich Luu, who’re the examine’s three first authors.

“This project shows what’s possible when skilled PhD students and postdocs work together across disciplines. Collaboration really is at the heart of scientific progress,” says Professor Simona Radutoiu.

She emphasizes that the achievement displays the robust analysis atmosphere on the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, the place teamwork throughout expertise ranges continues to drive discovery.

Reference: Tsitsikli M, Simonsen B, Luu TB, et al. Two residues reprogram immunity receptors for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Nature. 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09696-3 

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