1. Rod-shaped or irregularly shaped bacterial cells found in root nodules of leguminous plants, formed by the symbiotic bacterium Rhizobium.
Usage: biology; plural form; singular is bacteroid; technical term used in microbiology and plant science

Examples

• The bacteroids in the root nodules help convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form the plant can use.
• Legume farmers benefit from the bacteroids that establish symbiotic relationships with their crops.
• Under the microscope, bacteroids appear as irregular rod-shaped structures within the nodule tissue.
• The formation of bacteroids is essential for nitrogen fixation in plants like beans and clover.
• Scientists study bacteroids to understand how plants and bacteria cooperate in nutrient cycling.