Arabidopsis thaliana interaction with Ensifer meliloti can support plant growth under N-deficiency

This work shows association between and for plant nutrition under severe N-deficiency, and suggests that plants have conserved-molecular mechanisms to interact with N-fixing bacteria to procure N and escape adverse conditions. Under these circumstances, the supply of N via N-fixation is critical for survival, allowing the plant to complete its life cycle. Our findings provide a new framework and an experimental model system that expand our understanding of plant-rhizobia interactions for plant N-nutrition.