Abstract
The objective of this research was to study the performance of 10 common bean genotypes under water deficit stress and how it affects to their symbiotic relationship with 10 Rhizobium strains in both greenhouse and field conditions. PHA-0471, a small seeded genotype had the best yield under irrigation and under water stress. Other genotypes with tolerance to drought were the large-seeded PHA-0432 and PHA-0683. In the Rhizobium inoculation tests it was observed that the increase of dry nodular weight produced less seed yield in beans. PHA-0683 genotype presented a great uniformity on nodule size and an association with yield when it displays the big nodule phenotype. Further research about this would be interesting because this fact could be due to the existence of a plant blocking mechanism for inefficient strain nodules. The inoculated plants were productive in irrigated fields and in drought ones and their productivity was the same or even better than the N supplemented plant control. The genotype-strain relationship was very specific and the local strains achieved the greatest productivity with some genotypes in irrigated and drought conditions that make possible their use as inoculating strains, with relevance for the environmental impact of agriculture.
Highlights
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is produced worldwide as an important protein crop and an alternative to animal protein in the human diet [1]
Over 60% of dry bean production worldwide is subject to water-deficit stress at some stage of growth [6], with yield losses up to 80% resulting from drought in some regions [7]
The bean genotypes used belong to the germplasm collection at the MBG-CSIC (Pontevedra, Spain), while the Rhizobium strains were collected in different soils in the region (Galicia, NW of Spain) (Table 1)
Summary
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is produced worldwide as an important protein crop and an alternative to animal protein in the human diet [1]. This crop contains vital nutrients including vitamins and minerals, and the stems are used as fodder for livestock, especially in the dry spell following the main cropping season [2]. Drought stress is a major yield-limiting factor in dry bean production worldwide [3,4] especially in marginal, unfavorable environments [5]. Drought stress in beans can elicit numerous plant responses including reduced root, shoot, and leaf development, poor nutrient uptake, reduced photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf area, and biomass, inefficient partitioning of carbohydrates, and reduced pod set and seed yield [3,8,10]
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