Most Frankiastrains are specific to different plant species. The bacteria are filamentous and convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia via the enzymenitrogenase, a process known as nitrogen fixation. They do this while living in root nodules on actinorhizal plants. The bacteria can supply most or all of the nitrogen requirements of the host plant. As a result, actinorhizal plants colonise and often thrive in soils that are low in plant nutrients.[6]
Several Frankia genomes are now available which may help clarify how the symbiosis between prokaryote and plant evolved, how the environmental and geographical adaptations occurred, the metabolic diversity, and the horizontal gene flow among the symbiotic prokaryotes.[6]
Frankia can resist low concentration of heavy metals such as, Cu, Co, and Zn.[7]Frankia may be an advantage for degraded soil. Degraded soil is known as soil that is heavy metal rich or nutrient depleted due to a drought. Frankia is a nitrogen-fixed organism, explaining why it is able to resist heavy metals.[8][clarification needed]
Frankia is a gram-positive Bacteria that is found on the roots of plants. The fact that Frankia is gram-positive means that the bacteria is made up of thick cell walls made out of protein called peptidologlycan. This helps with the resistance of the heavy metals that may be in the degraded soil.[9]
Frankia tolerates a narrow range of temperatures and soil pH levels. It grows best at around 30 degrees Celsius with an environment pH between 6.5 and 7.[10] These facts shows that Frankia is very sensitive to its environment. Though Frankia would not be suitable for all agriculture it does demonstrate possibilities in select areas, or in temperature controlled environments.[citation needed]
^Brunchorst J. (1886).『Über einige Wurzelanschwellungen, besonders diejenigen von Alnus und den Elaegnaceen』[On root swellings, particularly those of Alnus and the Elaeagnaceae]. Untersuchungen aus dem botanischen Institut in Tübingen [Investigations of the Botanical Institute in Tübingen ]. 2 (151–177).
^Abdel‐lateif, Khalid Salah El dein; Mansour, Samira R.; El‐Badawy, Mohamed F.; Shohayeb, Mohamed M. (2018). "Isolation and molecular characterization of Frankia strains resistant to some heavy metals". Journal of Basic Microbiology. 58 (9): 720–729. doi:10.1002/jobm.201800122. ISSN1521-4028. PMID29962068. S2CID49639716.
^El dein Abdel-lateif, Khalid Salah; Mansour, Samira R.; El-Badawy, Mohamed F.; Shohayeb, Mohamed M. (September 2018). "Isolation and molecular characterization of Frankia strains resistant to some heavy metals". Journal of Basic Microbiology. 58 (9): 720–729. doi:10.1002/jobm.201800122. PMID29962068. S2CID49639716.
^Nouioui, Imen; Ghodhbane-Gtari, Faten; del Carmen Montero-Calasanz, Maria; Rohde, Manfred; Tisa, Louis S.; Gtari, Maher; Klenk, Hans-Peter (2017-03-01). "Frankia inefficax sp. nov., an actinobacterial endophyte inducing ineffective, non nitrogen-fixing, root nodules on its actinorhizal host plants". Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 110 (3): 313–320. doi:10.1007/s10482-016-0801-7. ISSN1572-9699. PMID27830471. S2CID39458226.
^Srivastava, Amrita; Singh, Anumeha; Singh, Satya S.; Mishra, Arun K. (2017-04-16). "Salt stress–induced changes in antioxidative defense system and proteome profiles of salt-tolerant and sensitive Frankia strains". Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. 52 (5): 420–428. doi:10.1080/10934529.2016.1270672. ISSN1093-4529. PMID28085556. S2CID38519293.
^Schwintzer, C. R.; Tjepkema, J. (1990). The Biology of Frankia and Actinorhizal Plants. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN978-0126332100.
