Plant-Cyanobacteria Symbiosis

Our group studies the mutualistic relationships between cyanobacteria and crop plants, with the aim of obtaining new biofertilizers for crop production. Some cyanobacteria, able to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2), use photosynthesis as the primary source of energy to assimilate this element, and are known for their enormous contribution to nitrogen and carbon cycles in the biosphere. Some cyanobacteria genera live in symbiosis with plants, providing nitrogen to the host. The design of biofertilizers containing these symbiotic cyanobacteria constitutes a sustainable alternative to nitrogen fertilizers, reducing the environmental risk associated with intensive agriculture.