title: Genetic diversity and symbiotic compatibility among rhizobial strains and Desmodium incanum and Lotus spp. plants.
abstract: This work aimed to evaluate the symbiotic compatibility and nodulation efficiency of rhizobia isolated from Desmodium incanum, Lotus corniculatus, L. subbiflorus, L. uliginosus and L. glaber plants by cross-inoculation. Twelve reference strains and 21 native isolates of rhizobia were genetically analyzed by the BOX-PCR technique, which showed a high genetic diversity among the rhizobia studied. The isolates were also characterized based on their production of indolic compounds and siderophores, as well as on their tolerance to salinity. Fifteen of the 33 rhizobia analyzed were able to produce indolic compounds, whereas 13 produced siderophores. All the tested rhizobia were sensitive to high salinity, although some were able to grow in solutions of up to 2% NaCl. Most of the native rhizobia isolated from L. uliginosus were able to induce nodulation in all plant species studied. In a greenhouse experiment using both D. incanum and L. corniculatus plants, the rhizobia isolate UFRGS Lu2 promoted the greatest plant growth. The results demonstrate that there are native rhizobia in the soils of southern Brazil that have low host specificity and are able to induce nodulation and form active nodules in several plant species.
authors: Departamento de Genética , Instituto de Biociências , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS , Brazil .
authors: Camille E
authors: CE
authors: Granada
authors: Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina , Campus Urupema , Urupema, SC , Brazil .
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Strochein
authors: Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária , Porto Alegre, RS , Brazil .
authors: Luciano K
authors: LK
authors: Vargas
authors: Departamento de Solos, Faculdade de Agronomia , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS , Brazil .
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Bruxel
authors: Departamento de Solos, Faculdade de Agronomia , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS , Brazil .
authors: Enilson Luiz Saccol
authors: EL
authors: de Sá
authors: Departamento de Genética , Instituto de Biociências , Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS , Brazil .
authors: Luciane M P
authors: LM
authors: Passaglia
keywords: Rhizobia; nitrogen; nodulation; specificity