Legumes have a natural symbiosis with soil bacteria, which makes them self-sufficient in nitrogen. In this way, they are energy-efficient and environment-friendly, and they can contribute to sustainable agriculture, for example when are used in crop rotations.

Our research group plant microbes has 40 years of research experience in this field, and currently studies the cross talk between plants and endophytic bacteria. The common theme is de novo plant organ induction as a consequence of the successful colonisation of nitrogen fixing microsymbionts or biotrophic pathogenic endophytes.