BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture VOLUME 41 Scientific Editor R.J. Summerfield, The University of Reading, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, Berkshire, UK Scientific Advisory Board J. Hamblin, Research Director, Export Grains Centre Ltd., WA, Australia H.-J. Jacobsen, Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany Aims and Scope The book series is intended for readers ranging from advanced students to senior research scientists and corporate directors interested in acquiring in-depth, state-of-the-art knowledge about research findings and techniques related to all aspects of agricultural biotechnology. Although the previous volumes in the series dealt with plant science and biotechnology, the aim is now to also include volumes dealing with animals science, food science and microbiology. While the subject matter will relate more particularly to agricultural applications, timely topics in basic science and biotechnology will also be explored. Some volumes will report progress in rapidly advancing disciplines through proceedings of symposia and workshops while others will detail fundamental information of an enduring nature that will be referenced repeatedly. The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume. Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment Proceedings of the 14th International Nitrogen Fixation Congress Edited by YI-PING WANG College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China MIN LIN Institute of Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China ZHE-XIAN TIAN College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China CLAUDINE ELMERICH Institut des Sciences du Végétal, and WILLIAM E. NEWTON Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA CNRS-UPR2355, Gif-sur-Yvette and Institute Pasteur, Paris, France Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Printed on acid-free paper ISBN-10 1-4020-3569-1 (HB) ISBN-10 1-4020-3570-5 (e-book) ISBN-13 978-1-4020-3569-1 (HB) ISBN-13 978-1-4020-3570-5 (e-book) Published by Springer, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. All Rights Reserved © 2005 Springer No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed in the Netherlands. www.springeronline.com 14 TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON NITROGEN FIXATION was organized by NATIONAL LABORATORY OF PROTEIN ENGINEERING AND PLANT GENETIC ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES, PEKING UNIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CHINESE ACADEMY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and supported by Peking University Ministry of Education, P. R. China National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) The National Key Fundamental Research Program of China (973 Program) National Natural Science Foundation of China UNESCO National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering Chinese Society of Biotechnology Chinese Society for Microbiology Sichuan Habio Bioengineering Co., Ltd Shenfeng Biotech Engineering Co., Ltd of Angang Industry