Bacteroid (Noun)
Meaning
A rodlike bacterium (especially any of the rod-shaped or branched bacteria in the root nodules of nitrogen-fixing plants).
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The bacteroid form of Rhizobium is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by the plant.
- The bacteroids in the root nodules of legumes are responsible for converting nitrogen gas into ammonia.
- Bacteroids are typically found in symbiotic relationships with plants, providing essential nutrients in exchange for carbohydrates.
- The bacteroid morphology is characterized by a rod-like shape, often with branching or irregularities.
- In the process of nodulation, Rhizobia bacteria differentiate into bacteroids, which then begin to fix nitrogen for the plant.