Performing Department
BIOCHEMISTRY
Non Technical Summary
The meeting is the 18th North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation, which is being hosted by the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Plant Group and also serves as the 20th Annual Missouri Symposium. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation has held a central position in plant biology as nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in plant growth and development, with the occasional exception of water. Nitrogen fixation, which is performed by a rather small group of bacteria, promotes plant growth, development and ultimately species perpetuation through the formation of plant-bacterial interactions. These symbiotic interactions occur in a myriad of forms each with its own complexities. The development of symbiotic nitrogen fixation is perhaps the most sophisticated example of inter-species co-evolution. The conference will subdivide the field of symbiotic nitrogen fixation into six topic areas: Genomics, Differentiation and Regulation; Physiology and Metabolism;
Ecology; Agricultural and Environmental Applications; Plant-Microbial Signaling; Taxonomy and Evolution; and Other Nitrogen-Fixing Systems. There is considerable overlap among these six topic areas as symbiotic nitrogen fixation has been demonstrated to be an exceedingly complex and interdependent process. The conference will bring together scientists from about a dozen foreign countries as well as many from the United States. The conference will promote the careers of young scientists by using NRICGP-USDA support to offset their costs for attending the meeting.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
80%
Applied
20%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The objective is to provide a highly interactive forum in which to discuss and disseminate the recent progress in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The meeting is the 18th North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation, which is being hosted by the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Plant Group and also serves as the 20th Annual Missouri Symposium. Both meetings have become internationally attended meetings. While the North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation has a specific topic, the Annual Missouri Symposium has had varied and timely topics in plant biology. The First Annual Missouri Symposium featured symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation has held a central position in plant biology as nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in plant growth and development, with the occasional exception of water. Nitrogen fixation, which is performed by a rather small group of bacteria, promotes plant growth, development and ultimately
species perpetuation through the formation of plant-bacterial interactions. These symbiotic interactions occur in a myriad of forms each with its own complexities. The development of symbiotic nitrogen fixation is perhaps the most sophisticated example of inter-species co-evolution. It is a highly regulated and integrated process that has significantly influenced the genomes of each symbiotic partner. We are just beginning to unravel the molecular complexities in terms of co-coordinated gene regulation, proteomic and metabolic interactions. The recent and pending publication of genomes of several nitrogen-fixing bacteria and their plant hosts provides an impetus for new avenues of research. In addition to the basic scientific intrigues of the symbiotic interaction between genomes, proteomes and metabolic systems, nitrogen fixation has a direct influence on the ecology and the environment. The application of fertilizer nitrogen influences the soil ecology and becomes an environmental
pollutant since a considerable portion is leached from the soil and enters streams, lakes and waterways. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation allays the ecological and environmental concerns in agricultural systems growing leguminous crop plants. But farmers often apply nitrogen fertilizers to leguminous crop plants because effective symbioses are not always established under field conditions. Thus, there are several research areas within the overall label of symbiotic nitrogen fixation that need to be addressed to understand the fundamental molecular processes, physiology and ecology for the ultimate goal of improving agricultural productivity. The conference will subdivide the field of symbiotic nitrogen fixation into six topic areas: Genomics, Differentiation and Regulation; Physiology and Metabolism; Ecology; Agricultural and Environmental Applications; Plant-Microbial Signaling; Taxonomy and Evolution; and Other Nitrogen-Fixing Systems. There is considerable overlap among these six topic
areas as symbiotic nitrogen fixation has been demonstrated to be an exceedingly complex and interdependent process.
Project Methods
Both the North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and the Annual Missouri Symposium have similar philosophies on the selection of speakers. The North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation has always encouraged and featured oral presentations by junior scientists, which includes graduate students, post-doctorates and even laboratory technical staff when appropriate. The North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation has always invited specific speakers in each of the topic areas, but has invited only a limited number. The remainder of the speakers are volunteers, that is, everyone who attends is permitted the choice of an oral or poster presentation. The advisory committee has in many instances encouraged a graduate student or post-doctorate to present an oral presentation rather than a poster presentation. The oral presentation affords the junior scientist a better opportunity for future scientific employment and success. The
typical scientific session will contain the oral presentation by at least one post-doctorate and/or graduate student. Many conferences permit oral presentations by only established investigators. The North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation promotes junior scientist oral presentations. Thus, our list of invited speakers is relatively short. This affords us maximal flexibility in selecting junior scientists for oral presentations. The Annual Missouri Symposium also has a tradition of providing an opportunity to junior faculty and post-doctorates the privilege of an oral presentation. The venue will be the Annual Symposium Series of the University of Missouri's Interdisciplinary Plant Group, but will use the format primarily of the North American Conference on Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation blended with the traditional aspects of the Annual Missouri Symposium. The meeting will begin on Monday evening with an overview presentation by Professor Gary Stacey, who has recently
accepted an endowed chair position at the University of Missouri. After the presentation there will be a reception in the poster area to initiate interaction among the meeting's participants. The meeting sessions will begin on Tuesday morning and continue until Saturday afternoon concluding with a banquet Saturday evening. Each session will include oral presentations by invited speakers, established scientists, and junior scientists, which includes graduate students and post-doctorates. Each session will include considerable time for questions from the floor. In addition, the posters will be displayed throughout the meeting. We intend to have two session completely devoted to posters. Several social events are being planned for the evening meals which will further interaction among the participants.