Bacteria and archaea as the sources of traits for enhanced plant phenotypes

Caroline M.Smith-Moore, Amy M.Grunden

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, 4550 Thomas Hall, Box 7615, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.

Abstract

Rising global demand for food and population increases are driving the need for improved crop productivity over the next 30 years. Plants have inherent metabolic limitations on productivity such as inefficiencies in carbon fixation and sensitivity to environmental conditions. Bacteria and archaea inhabit some of the most inhospitable environments on the planet and possess unique metabolic pathways and genes to cope with these conditions. Microbial genes involved in carbon fixation, abiotic stress tolerance, and nutrient acquisition have been utilized in plants to enhance plant phenotypes by increasing yield, photosynthesis, and abiotic stress tolerance. Transgenic plants expressing bacterial and archaeal genes will be discussed along with emerging strategies and tools to increase plant growth and yield.

Keywords: Abiotic Stress, Archaea, Bacteria, Carbon Fixation, Genetic Engineering, Nitrogen Acquisition, Phosphate Acquisition, Yield.