Abundance and growth characteristics of Leguminosae nodulating bacteria in Embu and Taita benchmark sites of Kenya

Abstract

The populations of Leguminosae nodulating bacteria (LNB) were assessed under glasshouse conditions in soils collected from various land use systems in Embu and Taita benchmark sites. The populations were estimated by the most-probable-number (MPN) plant infection technique using Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urban (siratro) as the trap host species. The LNB populations in Embu and Taita sampling points varied from <2.5 to 2.3 × 10 2 and <5.1 to 6.1 × 10 6 cells g -1 of soil, respectively. There was apparent land use effect on abundance of LNB in both sites with maize-bean cropping system most frequently giving high population estimates. LNB were isolated from root nodules of nodulated siratro inoculated with dilution series of the soils. Over 643 pure isolates were isolated from root nodules of siratro MPN plants. The isolates were characterized on yeast extract mannitol mineral salts agar (YEMA) media containing bromothymol blue.

Abundance and growth characteristics of Leguminosae nodulating bacteria in Embu and Taita benchmark sites of Kenya (PDF Download Available). Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228510315_Abundance_and_growth_characteristics_of_Leguminosae_nodulating_bacteria_in_Embu_and_Taita_benchmark_sites_of_Kenya [accessed Sep 25, 2015].