9728184 Kennedy Acetobacter diazotrophicus is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from sugarcane grown throughout the world. It inhabits the interior spaces of sugarcane but not its outside surfaces or nearby soils. Evidence that this bacterium supplies fixed nitrogen for plant growth was obtained in the PI's laboratory: sugarcane plants inoculated with A. diazotrophicus grew better than did uninoculated plants or plants inoculated with mutants unable to fix nitrogen. This symbiosis provides a model system for studying the potential benefit of bacterial nitrogen fixation in grasses and cereals. The objectives are 1) to determine how much fixed N is supplied to the plants: 2) to learn whether production of growth hormones by A. diazotrophicus also benefits plant growth; and 3) to characterize how A. diazotrophicus colonizes sugarcane using bacteria tagged with fluorescent markers. The results will provide insight into how other monocots, such as corn, wheat or rice might benefit from nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)
Application #
9728184
Program Officer
Judith A. Verbeke
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1998-02-15
Budget End
2001-01-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
$310,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arizona
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Tucson
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85721