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Life Science Zurich Communication & Events

How bacteria fertilise soya

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Rhizobia (in blue) in the roots of a plant. The brown structures are plant proteins (coloured electron microscope image). (Photograph: ETH Zurich / Anne-​Greet Bittermann)

Soya and clover have their very own fertiliser factories in their roots, where bacteria manufacture ammonium, which is crucial for plant growth. Although this has long been common knowledge, scientists have only recently described the mechanism in detail. With biotechnology, this knowledge could now help make agriculture more sustainable.

ETH News