Abstract
Growth and symbiotic activity of legumes are mediated by Nod factors (LCO, lipo-chitooligosaccharides). To assess the effects of application of Nod factors on symbiotic activity and yield of pea, a two-year field experiment was conducted on a Haplic Luvisol developed from loess. Nod factors were isolated from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain GR09. Pea seeds were treated with the Nod factors (10−11 M) or water (control) before planting. Symbiotic activity was evaluated by measurements of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay), nodule number and mass, and top growth by shoot mass, leaf area, and seed and protein yield. Nod factors generally improved pea yield and nitrogenase activity in the relatively dry growing season 2012, but not in the wet growing season in 2013 due to different weather conditions.
Highlights
In a nitrogen-limiting environment, legumes can establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with bacteria from the family Rhizobiaceae
Application of the Nod factors doubled the nodule number in both years and nodule mass by 67% (p < 0.05) and 23% in 2012 and 2013, respectively
There was no significant effect of the Nod factors on the mass of one nodule
Summary
In a nitrogen-limiting environment, legumes can establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with bacteria from the family Rhizobiaceae. Qualitative and quantitative aspects of Nod factor populations are strain-specific These molecules induced nodulation processes at the host plant epidermis, cortex and pericycle, such as deformation of root hairs, membrane potential depolarization, and formation of nodule primordia [1]. Kidaj et al [6] observed in a pot experiment that Nod application on pea and vetch seeds significantly enhanced the percentage of germinated seeds, root size, nodule number, and symbiotic performance whereas the total nitrogen content in the plants remained unchanged. Recent studies in a growth-chamber environment showed that treatment of pea seeds with Nod factors before planting resulted in a significant increase in nitrogenase activity and total plant nitrogen content [12]. The objective of this study was to evaluate nitrogenase activity, nodulation and pea yield in a field experiment after seed treatment with Nod factors
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