Growth rate and Carbon source Utilization Patterns of Rhizobia isolated from Cicer areitinum L. and Pisum sativum L.

Abstract

Growth rate and carbon source utilization pattern are useful parameters for the estimation of genetic diversity among rhizobia. Nineteen chickpea and eleven green pea nodulating rhizobial strains were studied for growth rate and carbon source utilization. Isolates nodulating both crops were divided in to three groups on the basis of growth rate, although chickpea nodulating rhizobia were comparatively slow growers than green pea nodulating rhizobia. Most utilized carbon sources (100%) by chickpea isolates were L-arginine and urea where as green pea mainly depend on L-arginine and malic acid for carbon requirement. No chickpea strain consumed L-tryptophane as carbon sourece. Cluster analysis based on carbon source consumption divide 19 chickpea isolates with check strain Bio Power in to for major groups, where as green pea isolates were grouped in to three major clusters. and chickpea rhizobia are more selective and less diverse for their carbon source then green pea rhizobia.