The Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis: from Molecules to Farmers’ Fields

Dates: 18 - 22 October 2010
Venue: Wageningen, The Netherlands

A post-graduate level course for PhD candidates and researchers interested in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and its application in agriculture.
Under the auspices of the Wageningen University Graduate Schools:
Production Ecology & Resource Conservation and Experimental Plant Sciences

SCOPE
Successful growth, nitrogen fixation and production of a grain legume or forage, green manure or tree legume depends on: (GL x GR) x E x M >>>> namely the interaction between host legume genotype (GL) and the rhizobium strain(s) (GR) that nodulate it, in turn their adaptation to and interaction with the environment (E) and the management (M) by the farmer. Indeed the interaction with the environment and management can lead to selection of different combinations of (GL x GR) in the field. The environment (E) encompasses climate: temperature, rainfall, day length etc (length of growing season etc) and soils: nutrient limitations, acidity and toxicities). Management (M) includes agronomy: inoculation methods, seeding rates, plant density, weeding, fertilizer use etc. Disease and pest incidences are also a function of (GL x GR) x E x M.

Taking this simple equation as a starting point, this five-day course presents the current state-of-the art of knowledge on the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Furthermore, the constraints and opportunities of exploiting the symbiosis to increase food production and soil fertility in agricultural systems will be discussed. Through group work, participants will contribute to designing an agenda for future research.

COURSE SET-UP
The course is composed of a series of lectures, subsequent discussions, a poster session, working groups and a final debating session.
Lectures and Discussion
After each 45 minute lecture, a discussion of 30 minutes is convened by 2-3 participants who challenge the speaker on the presentation and papers that the speaker submitted earlier. Prior to the course, participants are asked to indicate after which speaker they want to convene the discussion. Accordingly, participants are assigned to a convener group and receive the relevant literature from that speaker.
Poster session
For the Poster Session participants must prepare a poster specifically for the course. The poster must highlight the following issues:
- Name and affiliation
- Title of research
- Short description of the research and research design
- Highlight from the research (something exciting)
- Why are you participating in this course?

Prior to the course, participants must submit a copy of the poster (A4-size) in PDF, which will be printed by the course office. Poster format will be prescribed by the course organisers. On the first evening of the course, participants will briefly (3 minutes) highlight the poster (based on a projected copy of the poster) and on the Monday afternoon there will be ample time for participants and lecturers to visit individual posters. Posters will remain in the lecture room during the course
Working Groups
After presentations and discussions, participants will work in groups on specific issues related to the legume-rhizobium symbiosis and its applicability in agricultural systems for sustained production. At the end of each day, there will be a plenary reflection on the working-group output, and an extended plenary discussion on the final day of the course.
Debating session
Two groups (about 5 participants per group) debate on the workgroup output and propositions that have been brought forward by speakers or have appeared to be a point of discussion during the course.
Outcome of week
We anticipate that the discussions and inputs from the course will lead to a new agenda for research on legume-rhizobium symbioses that will be summarised by the course leaders and communicated back to all participants. Further, we intend to publish a short summary of the outcomes in a relevant journal.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Target group: PhD students
Group size: 24 participants
Course duration: 5 days
Language: English
Frequency: once per year
Number of credits: 1.4 ECTS

MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
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