What are the conditions necessary for fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by Rhizobium. What is their role in N2 -fixation?
What are the conditions necessary for fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by Rhizobium. What is their role in N2 -fixation?
2 Answers
Rhizobium is a symbiotic bacteria present in the root nodules of leguminous plants.
The basic requirements for Rhizobium to carry out nitrogen fixation are as follows:
(a) Presence of the enzyme nitrogenase
(b) Presence of leg-haemoglobin
(c) Non-haem iron protein, ferrodoxin as the electron-carrier
(d) Constant supply of ATP
(e) Mg2+ions as co-factors
Rhizobium contains the enzyme nitrogenase – a Mo-Fe protein – that helps in the conversion of atmospheric free nitrogen into ammonia.
The reaction is as follows:
N2 + 8e– + 8H+ + 16 ATP→ 2 NH3 + H2 + 16ADP + 16Pi
The Rhizobium bacteria live as aerobes under free-living conditions, but require anaerobic conditions during nitrogen fixation. This is because the enzyme nitrogenase is highly sensitive to molecular oxygen. The nodules contain leghaemoglobin, which protects nitrogenase from oxygen.
Rhizobium bacteria need symbiotic association with legume plants to carry out nitrogen fixation. Root nodules contain the necessary enzymes for nitrogen fixation and thus enable rhizobium to fix nitrogen. The enzyme nitrogenase facilitates the conversion of nitrogen into ammonia which is the first stable product of nitrogen fixation. Ammonia is then converted into glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is then utilised by plants to make amino acids; which are then utilised to make protein.