The Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis: from molecules to farmer’s fields.

Successful growth, nitrogen fixation and production legumes (grain, forage, green manure or trees) depends on the interaction between host legume genotype (GL) and the rhizobium strain(s) (GR) that nodulate it, their adaptation to and interaction with the environment (E) and the management (M) by the farmer. This can be expressed as (GL x GR) x E x M. Taking this simple equation as a starting point, this five-day course presents the current state of the art of knowledge on the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Advances in molecular sciences concerning the evolution and diversity of the symbiosis and recognition between bacteria and the plant and the inoculation process will be reviewed. Furthermore, the constraints and opportunities of exploiting the symbiosis to increase food production and soil fertility in agricultural systems will be debated. The course consists of a combination of lectures and group work in which participants will contribute to designing an agenda for future research.