Biopolymers and cell. 1992. Volume 8. № 5. 44 - 48

V. H. Nguyen, M. Alexeyev, N. Kozyrovska, V. Kordyum, J. Elhai

ANABAENA THERMAL1S: A NITROGEN-FIXING CYANOBACTER1UM ASSOCIATED WITH RICE

Summary

    The nitrogen-fixing filamentous cyanobacterium A. thermalis SpA was isolated from the-surface of wild rice growing in Viet Nam. Electron microscopy shows that the purified strain is able to penetrate into the root interior of surface sterilized rice plants. Attempts have been initiated to genetically manipulate A. thermalis SpA in order to understand whether nitrogen fixation and adherence are critical factors underlying the reported ability of the strain to enhance rice yields. As a first step, we have shown that A. thermalis SpA does not possess a DNA restriction-modification system that might limit the introduction of foreign DNA into the strain.