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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #65165
Title: CARBON AND NITROGEN METABOLISM IN LOTUS

Author
item GREGERSON, ROBERT - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item ROBINSON, DAVID - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Vance, Carroll

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The genus Lotus is comprised of nearly 200 species including two major agronomic species, L. corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil), and L. pedunculatus (big trefoil). In this review, we will mainly describe carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism in L. corniculatus since it has received the greatest research attention. Important contributions from research on L. pedunculatus will also be cited. We assume that most findings obtained using L. pedunculatus will apply directly to L. corniculatus, since these species are closely related. Therefore, unless results are known to be contradictory between species, no distinction will be made between results obtained from research on L. corniculatus and L. pedunculatus. An understanding of C and N metabolism in a legume must necessarily integrate aspects of metabolism in shoots, in roots, and in root nodules. In addition, the endosymbiont (Rhizobium or Bradyrhizobium) must also be considered because of its pivotal role in nitrogen metabolism. We therefore will discuss the contributions of both symbiotic partners as well as the roles that the different organ systems of the plant play in C and N metabolism. The fact that carbon and nitrogen metabolism are closely linked provides a good rationale for including these topics in a single chapter.