Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mayaguez, Puerto Rico » Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302394
Title: Response of Andean and Mesoamerican common bean genotypes to inoculation with rhizobium strains.

Author
item RACANCOJ, A. - Escuela Agricola Panamericana
item VARGAS, A. - University Of Puerto Rico
item ROSAS, J. - Escuela Agricola Panamericana
item ESTEVEZ DE JENSEN, CONSUELO - University Of Puerto Rico
item BEAVER, J. - University Of Puerto Rico
item Porch, Timothy - Tim

Submitted to: Bean Improvement Cooperative Annual Report
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/28/2014
Publication Date: 4/1/2014
Citation: Racancoj, A.J., Vargas, A., Rosas, J.C., Estevez De Jensen, C., Beaver, J.S., Porch Clay, T.G. 2014. Response of Andean and Mesoamerican common bean genotypes to inoculation with rhizobium strains. Bean Improvement Cooperative Annual Report. p. 245-246.

Interpretive Summary: In most common bean production regions of Latin America, inoculants, composed of symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legume plants, are rarely used by farmers in spite of several studies that demonstrate the importance of inoculation on commercial production of legume crops. This study investigated specific bean host plant-Rhizobium strain (symbiotic bacteria) interactions that could facilitate the selection of superior Rhizobia with greater response to inoculation, and with the potential to increase bean productivity in nitrogen limited soils. The results show that nodulation response of bean genotypes was significantly influenced by Rhizobium strain and common bean variety, but not by their interaction. On average, Andean common bean varieties had greater nodulation and plant dry weight than Mesoamerican varieties.

Technical Abstract: In most common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production regions of Latin America, inoculants are rarely used by farmers in spite of several studies that demonstrate the importance of Rhizobium inoculation on commercial production of legume crops. This study investigated specific bean host plant-Rhizobium strain interactions that could facilitate the selection of superior symbionts with greater response to inoculation, and with the potential to increase bean productivity in N limited soils. The results show that nodulation response of bean genotypes was significantly influenced by Rhizobium strains and genotype treatments, but not by their interaction. On average, Andean genotypes had greater nodulation and plant dry weight than Mesoamerican genotypes.