African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (1), pp. 1-7, January 2003

ISSN 1684-5315  © 2003 Academic Journals  

MINIREVIEW

Actinorhizal, mycorhizal and rhizobial symbioses: how much do we know?

Diaga Diouf^1,2,*, Tahir A. Diop^2,3 and Ibrahima Ndoye^2,3

¹Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Végétales

²Département de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques,

Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, BP 5005, Sénégal

*Corresponding author; e-mail: ddiouf@ucad.sn

Accepted 17 December 2002

In this review, we discuss the recent progress in research on symbiotic association of rhizobia, Frankia and fungi with plant roots. We compare infection processes of symbiotic establishment; structure, functioning and molecular biology of the symbiotic organ including the regulation of genes implicated in rhizobial, actinorhizial and arbuscular mycorhizal symbioses.

Key words: Symbiosis, nodule, mycorrhiza, symbiotic genes.