Genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Rhizobium isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The diversity of 16 strains of chickpea-infective rhizobia from various geographical origins was analysed using genotypic and phenotypic approaches. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis was performed, and restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the amplified 16S + IGS (intergenic spacer) rRNA gene, assimilation of 147 carbon sources, antibiotic resistance, and tolerance to NaCl and extreme pH values and temperatures were tested. These approaches had different discriminating powers. Esterase polymorphisms gave a unique pattern for each strain, allowing this method to be used for strain fingerprinting. Genetic distances between strains were estimated. The three approaches used in this study yielded consistent results. They evidenced high heterogeneity among the strains, and made it possible to classify the strains into two clusters. Isozyme patterns for superoxide dismutase were particularly interesting, since they delineated the same two groups. The phenotypic tests clearly confirmed the existence of two genetic groups on the basis of 11 phenotypic characters. Owing to the large phylogenetic distance between the two groups of strains, the taxonomic status of chickpea-infective strains is discussed.

Phenotypic characterization and symbiotic effectiveness test of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rhizobia isolated from Dejen and Aneded Districts, East Gojjam Zone, Amahara Region, Ethiopia

“…The isolates changed YEMA-BTB medium to yellow and deep yellow were categorized as fast growing and others which changed to moderate yellow and did not show any color change were considered as a slow growing rhizobia. Chickpea rhizobia was reported to have both fast and slow growing strains (Nour et al, 1994). Moreover, isolates obtained from chickpea nodules failed to grow on BTB-medium (Wei et al, 2003).…”

Rhizobium ciceri sp. nov., Consisting of Strains That Nodulate Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.)

“…Sixteen strains were compared by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 16s rRNA gene, and more than 150 phenotypic characteristics (33). The results of all of the approaches were very consistent, and our data resulted in the delineation of two phylogenetically distant groups (groups A and B) and correlated relatively well with strain generation times (slow and fast growers).…”

“…In order to reexamine the biodiversity of the chickpea rhizobia, we tested some of the collection strains used by Cadahia et al (5); the strains used were chosen to represent various geographical origins (33). Sixteen strains were compared by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 16s rRNA gene, and more than 150 phenotypic characteristics (33).…”

Characterization of high temperature-tolerant rhizobia isolated from Prosopis juliflora grown in alkaline soil.

“…The data are in agreement with our recent report of Rhizobium tolerant to such a high pH value (Surange et al, 1997 a Overnight-grown (14-16 h) Rhizobium isolates (2-3ϫ10 9 cfu/ml) were incubated on a reciprocal shaker at the specified temperature forance range for Rhizobiaceae has been reported to be up to 9.5 (Jordan, 1984). Nour et al (1994) have reported pH tolerance of Rhizobium isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to be 10.0 and Shenbagarathai (1993) has reported Sesbania procumbens Rhizobium SBS-R100 capable of growing at pH 11.0.…”