Symbioprotein Ferritin (SymProFerr)

Some plants can protect themselves from dehydration by communicating with bacteria in the soil. This increased drought tolerance can protect and maintain the yield production during low rainfall and/or increasing temperatures. The positive interrelationship (symbiosis) between legume plants (e.g. peas and beans) with special soil bacteria (rhizobia) was first described about 130 years ago. It allows these plants to grow in nitrogen-poor soil while supplying the bacteria with sugar and other nutrients. In this symbiosis, a new plant organs, the root nodules are formed in which the bacteria can live. This subsequently creates many changes in the plant`s metabolism that can have a positive effect on their immune system. However, there are still many unanswered questions about how this symbiosis is formed, which nutrients are particularly important, how the nutrient exchange works and why the plant becomes more resilient as a result. Iron is one of the nutrients that seems to be important not only for the growth of plants, but also for the formation and function of the symbiosis. The plant protein ferritin is used for the targeted storage and release of iron throughout the plant tissues, and during the symbiosis to the root nodules as well. Initial results showed that plants lacking this particular protein cannot develop root nodules, suggesting that ferritin is also important for the development of symbiosis. Interestingly, ferritin also seems to be involved in the increased tolerance to drought in the plants while beeing enhanced during symbiosis. In our study, therefore, the dual role of ferritin and iron both in the formation of symbiosis and in reducing drought stress will be examined and ultimately understood. The findings are likely to be transferable to many important crop plants of the legume family. Plant breeders could use this knowledge to protect their legumes from climate change.