Symbiotic efficiency of native Rhizobium leguminosarum b.v viciae of lentil

Considering the destructive consequences of unilateral application of nitrogen fertilizers on water and soil resources, biofertilizers will be of special importance. Regarding that native bacterial strains are capable of sustainability and efficiency, the present study was conducted on 95 isolates of bacteria in the microbial collection of Soil and Water Research Institute. Symbiotic efficiency (S.E) and plant infection tests were carried out. Lentil seeds of Bilesavar cultivar were cultured in test tubes containing nutrient solution without nitrogen and agar in three replications and inoculated with each bacterial isolate. Inoculated Seeds were grown under controlled greenhouse conditions for two months then measured in terms of dry weight of shoot, length of shoot and number of nodules as well as isolates SE using shoot dry weight. Results of analysis of variance showed that bacterial inoculation had a significant effect on shoot dry weight and length, number of root nodules and symbiotic efficiency (p < 0.01). All isolates were able to form root nodules on lentil. Symbiosis efficiency was measured very well and well in 87.3% of the isolates, while 12.7% were moderate to poor. Isolates BK11-1 and GL10-1 had the highest measured SE (250.4 and 247.16, respectively). Finally 19 superior isolate were selected in terms of shoot dry weight and symbiotic efficiency according to distribution of provinces.