Selecting Rhizobium phaseoli strains for use with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Kenya: infectiveness and tolerance of acidity and aluminium

• Published in: Plant and soil 1988-11, Vol.112 (1), p.7-13
• Main Authors: Karanja, N.K. (Reading Univ. (UK). Dept. of Soil Science), Wood, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; ACIDEZ; ACIDITE; ACIDITY; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ALUMINIO; ALUMINIUM; aluminum; Biological and medical sciences; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; INOCULACION; INOCULATION; KENIA; KENYA; Liquids; nodulation; Orchard soils; Organic soils; PHASEOLUS VULGARIS; RHIZOBIUM; Rhizobium leguminosarum; Rhizobium leguminosarum phaseoli; Rhizobium phaseoli; Soil organic carbon; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; soils (acid); Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Turbidity
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02181746

Forty strains of Rhizobium phaseoli, isolated from Kenyan soils, were tested for infectiveness on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). 28 strains were infective and a cultivar × Rhizobium interaction was observed. 48 strains were screened for tolerance of acidity and Al in liquid culture. Assessment of visible turbidity after 14 days indicated 34 strains tolerant of pH 4.5 but none tolerant of pH 3.5. No strain was tolerant of 50µM/Al at pH 5.5. Three strains were tolerant of 20 µM Al at pH 5.5 and 10 µM Al at pH 4.5. Screening on a solid medium identified strains tolerant of 20 and 50 µM Al at pH 5.5 and 4.5 which were sensitive to these treatments in liquid culture. Those strains tolerant to 20 µM Al at pH 4.5 and 5.5 in liquid culture were correctly identified on the solid medium.