New Native Rhizobia Strains for Inoculation of Common Bean in the Brazilian Savanna

Fábio Martins Mercante,Auro Akio Otsubo,Osmar Rodrigues Brito

doi:10.1590/18069657rbcs20150120

Abstract

ABSTRACT Maximization of biological nitrogen fixation in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crop depends on the genetic characteristics related to the plant, the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia, and environmental factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of rhizobia selected beforehand from Cerrado (Brazilian tropical savanna) soils in Mato Grosso do Sul. The experiments were conducted in 2007 in the municipalities of Aquidauana, Anaurilândia, Campo Grande, and Dourados, all located in the state of Mato Grosso [...]

Highlights

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), hereinafter “bean”, is a crop of great social and economic importance in Brazil because, in addition to being one of the main sources of protein for the population, it is a source of income for thousands of rural producers, especially family farmers
Maximization of biological nitrogen fixation in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crop depends on the genetic characteristics related to the plant, the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia, and environmental factors
The environmental variability among the experimental sites was evident (Table 2). This characteristic, as determined by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture (Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento - MAPA) by Normative Instruction DAS 13 of March 25, 2011, is one of the fundamental criteria used to assess the feasibility and agronomic efficiency of inoculants and technologies associated with the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process in legumes for the purpose of selection and recommendation of bean crop inoculants in Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), hereinafter “bean”, is a crop of great social and economic importance in Brazil because, in addition to being one of the main sources of protein for the population, it is a source of income for thousands of rural producers, especially family farmers. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process can, at least partially, supply the requirements of this crop and ensure greater yield levels, up to 2500 kg ha-1 (Hungria et al, 2000; Pelegrin et al, 2009) Factors such as soil acidity, high concentrations of toxic Al and the competitive ability of rhizobia native to Brazilian soils can affect the symbiosis between rhizobia strains and bean crop, causing low efficiency in the inoculation process (Mercante et al, 1999; Vargas et al, 2000; Ferreira et al, 2013). Issues related to genetic instability of many rhizobia strains may cause a loss of efficiency or nodulation capacity under stress conditions, which may explain, in part, the considerable diversity in results obtained from inoculation of bean under field conditions (Peres et al, 1994; Hungria and Vargas, 2000; Hungria et al, 2003; Pelegrin et al, 2009)

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