Researchers at the University of Cambridge have demonstrated that the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) is essential for the formation and maturation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules in legumes and can also increase nodule size. They identified the specific times and location where GA governs the initiation, growth and function of nodules. These findings help to reconcile conflicting reports suggesting GA both inhibited and was required for nodulation by pinpointing the zones where GA is essential.
