Inoculation of Phaseolus coccineus L. with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli strains under glasshouse conditions

Abstract

Glasshouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the nodulation and N-fixation capacity of 19 indigenous strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli on botil bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) and the symbiotic response of several accession of indigenous botil bean to inoculation with one rhizobial strain. A wide variation in nodulation capacity between the rhizobial strains was observed. Nodule number and nodule dry weight plant-1 were found to be correlated with both shoot dry weight and N-shoot accumulation. Mean nodule dry weights inversely related to nodule number plant-1. At 120 days after planting only four strains significantly increased both shoot dry weight and N-shoot accumulation over the uninoculated control. Differences in nodulation and growth of inoculated plants suggested that seed-coat phenotypes of botil bean respond differently to rhizobia.