Introduction: Assessing opportunities for nitrogen fixation in rice - a frontier project

Abstract

Recent advances in understanding symbiotic Rhizobium-legume interactions at the molecular level, the discovery of endophytic interactions of nitrogen-fixing organisms with non-legumes, and the ability to introduce genes into rice by transformation have stimulated researchers world wide to harness opportunities for nitrogen fixation and improved N nutrition in rice. In a think-tank workshop organized by IRRI in 1992, the participants reaffirmed that such opportunities do exist for cereals and recommended that rice be used as a model system. Subsequently, IRRI developed a New Frontier Project to coordinate the worldwide collaborative efforts among research centers committed to reducing dependency of rice on mineral N resources. An international Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) working group was established to review, share research results/materials and to catalyze research.

The strategies of enabling rice to fix its own N are complex and of a long-term nature. However, if achieved, they could enhance rice productivity, resource conservation, and environmental security. The rate of obtaining success would, of course, benefit tremendously from concerted efforts from a critical mass of committed scientists around the world, as well as a constant and continued funding support from the ‘donor’ community.