Zinc Discovery Poised to Revolutionize Sustainable Agriculture

New research reveals zinc's critical role in nitrogen fixation, offering potential to enhance crop yields and reduce synthetic fertilizer use.

Researchers identified zinc as a crucial signal in regulating nitrogen fixation in legumes.
The transcriptional regulator FUN acts as a zinc sensor, optimizing nitrogen fixation based on environmental conditions.
This discovery could lead to more climate-resilient crops and expand cultivation into previously unsuitable areas.
Enhanced nitrogen fixation can improve soil fertility and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
The study involved collaboration between Aarhus University, Polytechnic University of Madrid, and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.