Abstract
Ten strains of lentil rhizobia (Rhizobium leguminosarum) were evaluated for drought tolerance by exposing them to soil moisture potentials of −0·03, −1·0 and −1·5 MPa. Water availability, rhizobial strain and time of exposure to drought had a significant (P≤ 0·001) effect on the number of surviving rhizobia g−1 of soil. Highest cell counts were observed at −0·03 MPa, followed by soil maintained at −1·0 and −1·5 MPa. Five strains originating from saline areas showed significantly (P≤ 0·05) better survival under low water potential after 35 days. Two strains exhibited greatest survival under low water potential and produced viable cell counts of more than 107 rhizobia g−1 of soil. These strains could probably be used successfully as inoculants for lentil production in arid and semi-arid environments.
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