1Department of Plant Pathology Section, College of Agriculture, 440001 Nagpur, India
2Department of Environmental Science, Kamla Nehru Mahavidyalaya, 440024, Nagpur, India
DOI : https://doi.org/10.21276/AATCCReview.2024.12.04.275
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Abstract
The present study aimed to screen Mesorhizobium ciceri isolates from chickpea root
nodules collected from various locations and assess their symbiotic traits, molecular
characterization, and plant growth-promoting activities. A total of 22 isolates, including 20
from Maharashtra and 2 from Madhya Pradesh, were evaluated through a pot culture
experiment for their impact on symbiotic traits such as nodule number, nitrogen content,
and growth parameters. Molecular characterization using 16S rRNA confirmed the
identification of 10 isolates as Mesorhizobium ciceri, while plant growth-promoting traits
were assessed to determine the most effective isolates. All isolates showed improvements
in growth parameters and symbiotic traits compared to the uninoculated control.
Correlation analysis and Duncan’s test identified 13 top performing isolates, with RC7,
RC32, and RC34 demonstrating superior performance. However, challenges included
variability in the effectiveness of the isolates under different conditions, making it
necessary to optimize strain selection for different environments. The findings reveal that
chickpea root nodule isolates exhibit significant variability in symbiotic traits and growth-
promoting characteristics, suggesting that this variability can be a valuable tool in selecting
effective Mesorhizobium isolates for chickpea cultivation. This study contributes to the
understanding of strain compatibility, highlighting the potential for enhancing chickpea
productivity through targeted biofertilizer application.