Biotechnological approaches to develop nitrogen-fixing cereals: A review

Agricultural yields are often limited by nitrogen (N) availability, especially in countries of the developing world, whereas industrialized nations application chemical N fertilizers has reached unsustainable levels that have resulted severe environmental consequences. Finding alternatives to inorganic is critical for sustainable and secure food production. Although gaseous (N2) abundant atmosphere, it cannot be assimilated most living organisms. Only a selected group microorganisms termed diazotrophs, evolved ability reduce N2 generate NH3 process known as biological fixation (BNF) catalysed nitrogenase, an oxygen-sensitive enzyme complex. This presents opportunity improve nutrition crop plants, through introduction into cereal crops either fixing bacteria or nitrogenase responsible fixation. review explores three potential approaches obtain N-fixing cereals: (a) engineering function plant cells; (b) legume symbiosis cereals; (c) cereals with capability associate bacteria.