History on the biological nitrogen fixation research in graminaceous plants: special emphasis on the Brazilian experience

José I Baldani,Vera L.D Baldani

doi:10.1590/s0001-37652005000300014

Abstract

This review covers the history on Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) in Graminaceous plants grown in Brazil, and describes research progress made over the last 40 years, most of which was coordinated by Johanna Döbereiner. One notable accomplishment during this period was the discovery of several nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as the rhizospheric (Beijerinckia fluminensis and Azotobacter paspali), associative (Azospirillum lipoferum, A. brasilense, A. amazonense) and the endophytic (Herbaspirillum seropedicae, H. rubrisubalbicans, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, Burkholderia brasilensis and B. tropica). The role of these diazotrophs in association with grasses, mainly with cereal plants, has been studied and a lot of progress has been achieved in the ecological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic aspects. The mechanisms of colonization and infection of the plant tissues are better understood, and the BNF contribution to the soil/plant system has been determined. Inoculation studies with diazotrophs showed that endophytic bacteria have a much higher BNF contribution potential than associative diazotrophs. In addition, it was found that the plant genotype influences the plant/bacteria association. Recent data suggest that more studies should be conducted on the endophytic association to strengthen the BNF potential. The ongoing genome sequencing programs: RIOGENE (Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus) and GENOPAR (Herbaspirillum seropedicae) reflect the commitment to the BNF study in Brazil and should allow the country to continue in the forefront of research related to the BNF process in Graminaceous plants.

Highlights

Research on Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) with grasses in Brazil was initiated by Johanna Döbereiner when she joined the research team at the National Center of Education and Agricultural Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, located at Km 47 in the fifties
Correspondence to: José Ivo Baldani E-mail: ibaldani@cnpab.embrapa.br on the occurrence of Azotobacter in acid soils of the “Baixada fluminense” (Döbereiner 1953). These studies gained visibility with the discovery of two new nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of some gramineous plants: Beijerinckia fluminensis with sugarcane (Döbereiner and Ruschel 1958) and Azotobacter paspali with Paspalum notatum cv. batatais (Döbereiner 1966)
The results showed that the S. lipoferum was very common in soil and in the roots of plants grown in tropical regions (Brazil and several African countries)

Summary

Introduction

Research on BNF with grasses in Brazil was initiated by Johanna Döbereiner when she joined the research team at the National Center of Education and Agricultural Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, located at Km 47 in the fifties. These studies gained visibility with the discovery of two new nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of some gramineous plants: Beijerinckia fluminensis with sugarcane (Döbereiner and Ruschel 1958) and Azotobacter paspali with Paspalum notatum cv.

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