Nodulation and biological fixation of nitrogen of peanut genotypes with native strips of rhizobium

Abstract

The maximization of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in tropical legume species is generally not efficient because these species can nodulate easily with indigenous rhizobial strains. The selection success of an efficient association depends on the genetic variability of the macro and microsymbiont. This study aimed to compare nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation parameters among different peanut genotypes. Nine genotypes were cultivated in Argisol and Planosol and shoot, root and nodule dry weight, nodule number, shoot total N content and acetylene reduction activity were evaluated. Under espontaneous nodulation, genotypes IAC Tatu-ST, IAC 886 Runner, Sapucaia Vermelha, Sapucaia Bege and CV Tatuí showed a better development suggesting that there are differences in the biological nitrogen fixation characteristics among the genotypes studied which may be useful for selecting efficient associations.