engleski

Characterization of indigenous rhizobial strains isolated from faba bean (Vicia faba L.) nodules

Faba bean is a legume valuable as a significant source of protein rich food and it is used both as a human food and feed for livestok in Mediterranean region, Middle East, China and Asia. The faba bean contributes to the sustainability of cropping systems via: the ability to use atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, reducing fossil energy consumption and application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers and providing source of nitrogen for future crop.The high variations in amount of fixed nitrogen are result of genotypic characteristics and symbiotic efficiency of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae strains.The main objective of this study was to characterize indigenous R. leguminosarum bv. viciae strains isolated from faba bean nodules and to determine the genetic and phenotypic diversity in natural populations of faba bean rhizobia.Nodules were collected from faba bean plants grown in Mediterranean region of Croatia.Twenty one field isolates were obtained from two locations in southern Dalmatia. The existence of indigenous populations of faba bean rhizobia in the area of investigation was determined.Analysis of genetic variability among indigenous strains revealed significant differences between reference strains and all field isolates. Among R. leguminosarum bv. viciae isolates considerable genetic and phenotypic diversity was also determined.

biological nitrogen fixation; faba bean; indigenous rhizobial strains; genetic and phenotypic characterization

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