Nitrogen fixing root nodules. Macrophotograph of red nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of a black alder tree (Alnus glutinosa). The nodules contain

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Nitrogen fixing root nodules. Macrophotograph of red nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of a black alder tree (Alnus glutinosa). The nodules contain symbiotic Frankia sp. bacteria, which take nitrogen from the air and convert it into forms the tree can use for nutrition. In return, the bacteria feed on sugars produced by the tree. This symbiosis (mutually-beneficial partnership) means that the alder can grow in less fertile soils than many other plants. Magnification: at 35mm size.

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Size: 3383px × 4924px
Photo credit: © BIOPHOTO ASSOCIATES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alder, alnus, bacteria, bacterial, bacteriology, bacterium, black, fixation, fixing, frankia, glutinosa, macrophotograph, micro-organisms, microbe, microbes, microbiology, nitrogen, nitrogen-fixing, nodule, nodules, plant, root, roots, sp., symbiosis, symbiotic, tree