Department of Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology, P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
Research Article
Screening for Ecologically Competent, Nutritional Characteristics and Symbiotically Effective Chickpea Nodulating Mesorhizobium spp. Isolated from Acidic Soils of Ethiopia
Author(s): Atsede Muleta, Kassahun Tesfaye, Teklehaimanot Haileselassie, Douglas R. Cook and Fassil Assefa
Background: Nitrogen fixations are limited in acidic soil due to the sensitivity of legume, rhizobia, and the symbiosis to low pH. However, legumes and their rhizobia show different responses to soil acidity. Objective: The experiment was conducted to screen indigenous Mesorhizobium isolates for their ecological competitiveness and symbiotically effectiveness for enhancing nitrogen fixation in chickpea production. Methodology: A total of 81 genetically diverse indigenous Mesorhizobium spp. were screened for low pH tolerance and their potential to ecological adaptations under in vitro conditions and their symbiotic effectiveness on two chickpea varieties under greenhouse conditions. Results: 62 (77%) strains grew well at low pH 5, and 47 (75.8%) of them were phosphate solubilizers. The species displayed marked differences in their eco-physiological characteristics such as the utilizati.. View more»