Biological nitrogen fixation in cereals: An overview

Abstract

Cereals like rice, wheat, maize, sorghum and millets are the crops
with total annual yields of 2000 million tons whereas two-third
population consumes only wheat worldwide. Demand for cereals is
gradually increasing so there is a need to improve the agronomic
and molecular parameters to enhance the quality and productivity of
cereals. Nitrogen is one of the essential nutrients required by plants;
however, cereals are unable to directly uptake nitrogen from the
environment. The nitrogen content of soil is maintained either though
fertilizer or organic farming. An excess use of nitrogen compounds
in any form like water, air, and soil wreaks havoc on the delicate
rhizosphere. An alternative sustainable solution is the incorporation
of biological nitrogen fixation into cereals that reduces the undesired
effects of chemical nitrogen. In this review article we will discussing
how the fertility of soil is maintained using diazotrophs and genetically
engineering in nitrogen fixing pathways in cereals.