Bacterial attachment as related to cellular recognition in the rhizobium‐legume symbiosis

Abstract

Bacterial attachment is viewed as a cellular recognition event during the infection of legumes by the nitrogen‐fixing symbiont, Rhizobium. Studies on the biochemical basis of selective attachment are reviewed, and suggest that this recognition process is accomplished by specific glycoprotein lectin–polysaccharide interactions on the surfaces of the symbionts. An understanding of host specificity may lead to ways to broaden the host range of nitrogen‐fixing symbioses.