Editorial: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis

Legume-rhizobia symbiosis is a remarkable and mutually beneficial association between higher plants and microbes, which is extremely important for sustainable agriculture and ecology. During this association, biological nitrogen fixation occurs in the nodule, which is a specialized accessory legume organ, generally formed on roots. In mature nodules, rhizobia convert inert atmospheric N2 into ammonia (NH3), essential for plant growth. In return, bacteria obtain photosynthetic carbon from the plant. The biologically fixed nitrogen during symbiosis accounts for approximately 65% of nitrogen use in agriculture (Burris and Roberts, 1993)