ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rhizobium rhizogenes

Do you know how plants grow? They need nutrients from the soil to grow big and strong, but sometimes the soil doesn't have all the nutrients they need. So, a special kind of bacteria called "rhizobium rhizogenes" can help them out!

Rhizobium rhizogenes is a type of bacteria that lives in the soil. It has a special trick that allows it to help plants grow better. This bacteria can make special growths on the roots of plants, called "hairy roots", that can absorb extra nutrients from the soil and help the plant grow stronger and healthier.

But, how does the rhizobium rhizogenes do this? Well, it has a special tool called "virulence genes" that it can use to insert some of its DNA into the plant's cells. This changes the plant's cells so that they start to make these hairy roots that can absorb extra nutrients.

It's like a plant superhero that can give other plants superpowers to help them grow better. Rhizobium rhizogenes and plants have a special relationship called "symbiosis", which means they work together to help each other out.

In conclusion, Rhizobium rhizogenes is a special bacteria that can help plants grow stronger and healthier by making them grow extra roots that can absorb more nutrients. It does this by using special "virulence genes" to change the plant's cells and give them superpowers to grow better.