Symbiotic Relationship between Bacteria and Soybeans Have Potential for a Natural Fertilizer
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Westenberg, David J.
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
Missouri S& T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a soil dwelling bacteria known to have a symbiotic relationship with soybean. It is hypothesized that B. japonicum communicates with other B. japonicum through quorum sensing. At the right density of quorum sensing molecules, B. japonicum will nodulate the soybean roots and conduct nitrogen fixation for the plant. The nodulation by B. japonicum is currently used to replenish nitrogen depleted soils by tamers. Companies are selling pre-inoculated seedlings for tamers with B. japonicum present. In the lab, these plants grow and inoculate correctly. However, in the field tamers are having difficulty getting the inoculation process to occur correctly. We believe the pre-inoculated seedlings are inoculated with B. japonicum grown at to high concentrations mimicking the environment in the nodule. The high concentration will produce a high concentration of quorum sensing molecules which will hinder the bacterium from nodulating properly.
Biography
Aaron is from St. James, Missouri and has attended MS& T for 4 years. He is currently a senior and will be graduating in May. He started researching during the summer of 2011. He is the vice president of Scrubs. Aaron plans to attend medical school after graduation.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
03 Apr 2013, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Symbiotic Relationship between Bacteria and Soybeans Have Potential for a Natural Fertilizer
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a soil dwelling bacteria known to have a symbiotic relationship with soybean. It is hypothesized that B. japonicum communicates with other B. japonicum through quorum sensing. At the right density of quorum sensing molecules, B. japonicum will nodulate the soybean roots and conduct nitrogen fixation for the plant. The nodulation by B. japonicum is currently used to replenish nitrogen depleted soils by tamers. Companies are selling pre-inoculated seedlings for tamers with B. japonicum present. In the lab, these plants grow and inoculate correctly. However, in the field tamers are having difficulty getting the inoculation process to occur correctly. We believe the pre-inoculated seedlings are inoculated with B. japonicum grown at to high concentrations mimicking the environment in the nodule. The high concentration will produce a high concentration of quorum sensing molecules which will hinder the bacterium from nodulating properly.
