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1media/Image Number 849610 by Alexey Sergeev of a schizophyllum commune courtesy of Mushroom Observer.jpg2019-04-07T23:39:27-07:00Sam Henrickson5cd0ff97c337b26d01e84db58bdb9506b40fff7a335194Ritualsplain2019-04-20T20:54:06-07:00Sam Henrickson5cd0ff97c337b26d01e84db58bdb9506b40fff7aThe imperative work done by the component of religion regarding rituals for bacteria is the creation aspect. What is important to remember about rituals in a religious context is that the creating species is doing so either for the furthering of the Ultimate Perfection quest or for the enactment of instruction by some higher authority. Rhizobia, a diazotrophic bacteria (which just means a bacteria that "fixes" nitrogen into something more useful) latches on to a plant host as they cannot independently perform their rituals.
Rhizobia are imperative in agriculture where the soil is deficient in nitrogen, as they form "root nodules" on the legume root, which look like fat bubbles infecting the surface of the plant. Inside these nodules, Rhizobia turn nitrogen from its gas form in the atmosphere into ammonia, which is easier for the plant to consume, as it is bundled away with the plants amino acid and nucleotide packages to be used for better plant growth. Once the plant dies, the nodules break down, and the Rhizobia inside can settle into the soil to live individually or be reattached to a nearby plant that is uninfected.
This ritual takes place after inter-species communication takes place, where the bacteria senses the plants flavonoids, which encourage the symbiotic relationship to begin. The Rhizobia's nitrogen-fixing is simply another way for it to spread, since when it infects its host, it is not actively purged by the plants defense systems, and it is given more room to spread. Should it end up latching onto another legume once its original host has died, it then can duplicate itself even more on the new real estate.
