Abstract
The size and effectiveness of indigenous rhizobia populations influence the legume yield response to inoculation. Some African soybean varieties (e.g. TGx lines) were developed to nodulate with indigenous Bradyrhizobium spp. as well as B. japonicum ostensibly to eliminate the need for inoculation with B. japonicum. We characterized the bradyrhizobia populations from 70 soils in 9 African countries according to nodulation phenotypes: B. spp. effectively nodulate cowpea, B. spp. (TGx) effectively nodulate TGx soybean and cowpea, B. japonicum nodulates N. American and TGx soybean and cowpea. Populations of B spp.(TGx) and B. japonicum were ≤102 g-1 in 85% and 91% of the soils indicating inoculation should increase soybean yields. B spp.(TGx) and B. japonicum were not detected in 26% and 67% of the soil samples. Population size was not related to soil physiochemical properties but was related to prior management. B. spp.(TGx) and B. japonicum populations≥103 g -1 soil were more frequent at research stations than farmers’ fields and where soybean had previously been grown. Of 258 isolates we made using TGx soybean as a trap host, only 27% were highly effective on TGx soybean. Most of the effective isolates were also effective on N. American soybean. RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA from B. spp.(TGx), B. japonicum, and B. spp. strains showed that most B. spp.(TGx) strains were phylogenetically related to B. spp. Like B. elkanii strains, B. spp.(TGx) strains do not have the nodY gene. Additional genetic analyses, evaluation of cross inoculation with tropical legumes and IAR analysis indicated the B. spp.
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Abaidoo, R., Singleton, P., Keyser, H., Borthakur, D., Dashiell, K. (1999). Distribution and Characteristics of Bradyrhizobium Spp. Nodulating African Soybeans. In: Martĺnez, E., Hernández, G. (eds) Highlights of Nitrogen Fixation Research. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4795-2_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4795-2_15
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