Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Evolution of Nitrogen-fixing Symbiosis in Higher Plants

Abstract

THE study of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis has been mostly confined to legumes. Other symbiotic associations are known, including members of at least four1,2, possibly five3, families of higher flowering plants, and one bryophyte4. The root nodules of Alnus, Myrica and Hippophae appear to contain lower fungi5, but the symbiont responsible for those of Casuarinaseems ill-defined. The leaf nodules of the Rubiaceae contain bacteria6, and the liverwort carries the blue-green alga Nostoc in exterior sacs in the thallus4.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bond, G., Fletcher, W. W., and Ferguson, T. P., Plant and Soil, 5, 309 (1954).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mowry, H., Soil Sci., 36, 409 (1933).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fred, E. B., Baldwin, I. L., and McCoy, E., Univ. Wisconsin Studies in Science, 5, 29 (1932).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bond, G., and Scott, G. D., Ann. Bot., N.S., 19, 67 (1955).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hawker, L. E., and Fraymouth, J., J. Gen. Microbiol., 5, 369 (1951).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. De Vries, J. T., and Derx, H. G., Ann. Bogorienses, 1, 53 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bond, G., MacConnell, J. T., and McCallum, A. H., Ann. Bot., N.S., 20, 501 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Allen, O. N., and Baldwin, I. L., Soil Sci., 78, 415 (1954).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Brown, R., J. Agric. Sci., 23, 529 (1933).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Bukatsch, F., and Heitzer, J., Arch. Mikrobiol., 17, 79 (1952).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nutman, P. S., Biol. Rev., 31, 109 (1956).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ruinen, J., Nature, 177, 220 (1956).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Stevenson, G. B., Ann. Bot., N.S., 17, 343 (1953).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Scott, G. D., New Phytol., 55, 111 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

PARKER, C. Evolution of Nitrogen-fixing Symbiosis in Higher Plants. Nature 179, 593–594 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/179593a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/179593a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing