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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1989 July; 55(7): 1711-1716
Copyright © 1989, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Influence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Location and Movement on Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation in Soybeans

P. Wadisirisuk, S. K. A. Danso^*, G. Hardarson and G. D. Bowen

¹ FAO/IAEA Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory, IAEA Laboratories in Seibersdorf, A-2444 Seibersdorf, and Joint FAO/IAEA Division, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, ² Austria

ABSTRACT

The influence of seed and soil inoculation on bradyrhizobial migration, nodulation, and N₂ fixation was examined by using two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains of contrasting effectiveness in N₂ fixation. Seed-inoculated strains formed fewer nodules on soybeans (mostly restricted to the tap and crown roots within 0 to 5 cm from the stem base) than did bradyrhizobia distributed throughout the soil or inoculated at specific depths. Nodulation was greater below the depths at which bradyrhizobial cells were located rather than above, even though watering was done from below to minimize passive bradyrhizobial migration with percolating water. The most profuse nodulation occurred within approximately 5 cm below the point of placement and was generally negligible below 10 cm. These and other results suggest that bradyrhizobial migration from the initial point of placement was very limited. Nevertheless, the more competitive strain, effective strain THA 7, migrated into soil to a greater extent than the ineffective strain THA 1 did. Nitrogen fixation resulting from the dual-strain inoculations differed depending on the method of inoculation. For example, the amount of N₂ fixed when both strains were slurried together onto the seed was about half that obtained from mixing the effective strain into the soil with the ineffective strain on the seed. The results indicate the importance of rhizobial distribution or movement into soil for nodulation, nodule distribution, strain competitiveness, and N₂ fixation in soil-grown legumes.

^* Corresponding author.

Present address: Department of Agriculture, Bangkhen, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

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