A new study reveals zinc’s critical role in regulating nitrogen fixation in legumes through a sensor named FUN. This discovery could help improve crop efficiencies and reduce synthetic fertilizer use by adapting to environmental and soil conditions.
Researchers have found that zinc significantly influences the nitrogen fixation process in legumes, a discovery that could transform legume-based agriculture.
Climate change, drought, increased temperature, and other stressors challenge agricultural sustainability. Researchers have now made an unexpected discovery: zinc plays a pivotal role in the plant response to abiotic stress. This groundbreaking discovery not only sheds light on the intricate mechanisms of plant growth but also holds promise for revolutionizing crop resilience, especially in legume-based agriculture.
Lotus japonicus. Credit: Helene Eriksen
Discovery of Zinc’s Role in Nitrogen Fixation
Scientists have uncovered a vital role for zinc in the nitrogen fixation process of legumes. This discovery, paired with insights into the transcriptional regulator known as Fixation Under Nitrate (FUN), has the potential to transform legume farming by enhancing crop efficiency and decreasing the dependence on synthetic fertilizers. By delving into the mechanisms through which zinc and FUN control nitrogen fixation, researchers aim to boost nitrogen availability, improve crop yields, and foster more environmentally friendly farming methods.
Legume crops form a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria, which fix atmospheric nitrogen into root nodules. These nodules, however, are vulnerable to various environmental pressures such as changes in temperature, drought, flooding, soil salinity, and elevated soil nitrogen levels.
Breakthrough in Plant Micronutrient Sensing
Researchers from 
Jieshun Lin showing the root nodules on a Lotus japonicus. Credit: Helene Eriksen
