**7. Conclusions and future perspectives**

The processes of nodulation and nitrogen fixation have long been recognized for their agri‐ cultural benefits and ability to improve soil-health. Recent work identifying the genes and signals involved in nodule formation and AON have significantly enhanced our under‐ standing of the processes and could provide targets for plant breeding and engineering pro‐ grams aiming to develop legume, and perhaps even non-legume, varieties with an improved ability to acquire nitrogen.
