Actinorhizal Plants: Their Use in Forestry and Agriculture

Abstract

The increasing cost of synthetic fertilizers has stimulated interest in the nitrogen-fixing property of Rhizobium, particularly as genetic engineering techniques raise the possibility of a symbiotic relationship with cereals. By contrast, the similar root nodules formed by nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes of the genus Frankia have been relatively little studied. Yet, as this article shows, the actinorhizal plants have very considerable possibilities for the utilization of marginal lands, especially in developing countries.