Isolation and screening of efficient rhizobial strains and evaluation of their efficiency in moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia Jacq)

Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia Jacq.) is a legume possess a higher nutritional value with 22-24 per cent protein and also used as a pasture legume. Fertilizer applications to moth bean are uncommon in India and mostly grown with minimum inputs and care. The main objective is to increase the production and productivity in moth bean crop, using crop or location specific, native rhizobial strains.

In vitro studies on isolation and characterization of Rhizobium from moth bean root nodules was carried out and further its efficiency was tested under pot culture conditions.

Among the thirty isolates obtained, 11 showed positive reactions for poor growth on glucose peptone agar medium, Ketolactose and catalase activities, citrate utilization in in vitro studies and were tentatively identified as Rhizobium. By 16S rRNA sequencing and culture number MB-1 was identified as Rhizobium skierniewicense. Biometric observations revealed that MB-1 inoculated plants significantly recorded the highest plant height of 34 cm; root length of 14 cm; 24 numbers of leaves per plant having the maximum nodule number of 27 and maximum number of pods of 39 pods plant^-1 and its corresponding single plant yield of seeds 18.6 g followed by COG15 inoculated plants which recorded 15.5 g of seeds in a plant. The native isolates Rhizobium skierniewicense, (MB-1) proven to be a effective strain resulted in higher and bigger nodules, increased biometrics and yield attributes.