Improvement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires a multidisciplinary app
roach with a comprehensive program ranging from microbial ecology to plant
breeding and genomics. Achievement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires
at least 100 genes from each partner interacting in a favorable environment
. The more information that we obtain from applied and fundamental studies
of Rhizobium-legume and Frankia-non-legume symbioses, the greater are our c
hances to extend nitrogen fixation to non-fixing species. Studies with alfa
lfa (Medicago sativa L.) aimed at improving symbiotic nitrogen fixation hav
e resulted in significant advances in germplasm development, plant biochemi
stry, microbial ecology and the understanding of plant genes involved in no
dule nitrogen and carbon metabolism. However, translation to field improvem
ent of symbiotic nitrogen fixation has proven elusive.