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Jaiswal SK, Dakora FD. Seed-Coat Pigmentation Plays a Crucial Role in Partner Selection and N 2 Fixation in Legume-Root-Microbe Associations in African Soils. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1464. [PMID: 38891273 PMCID: PMC11175086 DOI: 10.3390/plants13111464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Legume-rhizobia symbiosis is the most important plant-microbe interaction in sustainable agriculture due to its ability to provide much needed N in cropping systems. This interaction is mediated by the mutual recognition of signaling molecules from the two partners, namely legumes and rhizobia. In legumes, these molecules are in the form of flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are responsible for the pigmentation of plant organs, such as seeds, flowers, fruits, and even leaves. Seed-coat pigmentation in legumes is a dominant factor influencing gene expression relating to N2 fixation and may be responsible for the different N2-fixing abilities observed among legume genotypes under field conditions in African soils. Common bean, cowpea, Kersting's groundnut, and Bambara groundnut landraces with black seed-coat color are reported to release higher concentrations of nod-gene-inducing flavonoids and anthocyanins compared with the Red and Cream landraces. Black seed-coat pigmentation is considered a biomarker for enhanced nodulation and N2 fixation in legumes. Cowpea, Bambara groundnut, and Kersting's bean with differing seed-coat colors are known to attract different soil rhizobia based on PCR-RFLP analysis of bacterial DNA. Even when seeds of the same legume with diverse seed-coat colors were planted together in one hole, the nodulating bradyrhizobia clustered differently in the PCR-RFLP dendrogram. Kersting's groundnut, Bambara groundnut, and cowpea with differing seed-coat colors were selectively nodulated by different bradyrhizobial species. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing also found significant selective influences of seed-coat pigmentation on microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of five Kersting's groundnut landraces. Seed-coat color therefore plays a dominant role in the selection of the bacterial partner in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay K. Jaiswal
- Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria 0183, South Africa
| | - Felix D. Dakora
- Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria 0183, South Africa
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de Souza AES, Filla VA, da Silva JPM, Barbosa Júnior MR, de Oliveira-Paiva CA, Coelho AP, Lemos LB. Application of Bacillus spp. Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Improves Common Bean Production Compared to Conventional Fertilization. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3827. [PMID: 38005724 PMCID: PMC10675661 DOI: 10.3390/plants12223827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
The use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can be a sustainable strategy to increase phosphorus availability and promote satisfactory crop yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether inoculation with PSB in common bean increases (i) growth, (ii) nutrition, (iii) yield, and (iv) grain quality, and (v) reduces the chemical phosphorus application dose to obtain maximum yields. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol using a randomized block design in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, with four replicates, using the cultivar IAC 2051. The first factor was four doses of P2O5 (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1), and the second factor was four doses of PSB (0, 100, 200 and 300 mL ha-1). For leaf area and leaf chlorophyll content, the association of PSB inoculation with a P2O5 dose of 40 kg ha-1 promoted the best conditions for the common bean. P2O5 application increased yield by 79 kg ha-1 for each 10 kg ha-1 added. PSB inoculation at a dose of 192 mL ha-1 promoted P export of 15.3 kg ha-1, and the PSB dose of 159 mL ha-1 increased yield by 389 kg ha-1 (12%) compared to the control. Grain quality remained within the standards required by the consumer market, being little affected by the treatments. Improvements in common bean growth and nutritional and physiological status promoted by P2O5 application and PSB were essential in increasing yield, so these are sustainable production strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Erica Santos de Souza
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil; (A.E.S.d.S.); (V.A.F.); (J.P.M.d.S.); (M.R.B.J.); (L.B.L.)
| | - Vinicius Augusto Filla
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil; (A.E.S.d.S.); (V.A.F.); (J.P.M.d.S.); (M.R.B.J.); (L.B.L.)
| | - João Paulo Morais da Silva
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil; (A.E.S.d.S.); (V.A.F.); (J.P.M.d.S.); (M.R.B.J.); (L.B.L.)
| | - Marcelo Rodrigues Barbosa Júnior
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil; (A.E.S.d.S.); (V.A.F.); (J.P.M.d.S.); (M.R.B.J.); (L.B.L.)
| | | | - Anderson Prates Coelho
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil; (A.E.S.d.S.); (V.A.F.); (J.P.M.d.S.); (M.R.B.J.); (L.B.L.)
| | - Leandro Borges Lemos
- School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil; (A.E.S.d.S.); (V.A.F.); (J.P.M.d.S.); (M.R.B.J.); (L.B.L.)
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Singh A, Schöb C, Iannetta PPM. Nitrogen fixation by common beans in crop mixtures is influenced by growth rate of associated species. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:253. [PMID: 37183263 PMCID: PMC10184335 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) and facilitate N availability to their companion plants in crop mixtures. However, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of legumes in intercrops varies largely with the identity of the legume species. The aim of our study was to understand whether BNF and concentration of plant nutrients by common bean is influenced by the identity of the companion plant species in crop mixtures. In this greenhouse pot study, common beans were cultivated with another legume (chickpea) and a cereal (Sorghum). We compared BNF, crop biomass and nutrient assimilation of all plant species grown in monocultures with plants grown in crop mixtures. RESULTS We found beans to exhibit low levels of BNF, and to potentially compete with other species for available soil N in crop mixtures. The BNF of chickpeas however, was enhanced when grown in mixtures. Furthermore, biomass, phosphorous and potassium values of chickpea and Sorghum plants were higher in monocultures, compared to in mixtures with beans; suggesting competitive effects of beans on these plants. Concentration of calcium, magnesium and zinc in beans was higher when grown with chickpeas than with Sorghum. CONCLUSIONS It is generally assumed that legumes benefit their companion plant species. Our study highlights the contrary and shows that the specific benefits of cereal-legume mixtures are dependent on the growth rate of the species concerned. We further highlight that the potential of legume-legume mixtures is currently undervalued and may play a strong role in increasing N use efficiency of intercrop-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Agricultural Ecology Group, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of International Cooperation, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Frick, Switzerland.
| | - Christian Schöb
- Agricultural Ecology Group, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pietro P M Iannetta
- Department of Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK
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Galindo FS, Pagliari PH, da Silva EC, Silva VM, Fernandes GC, Rodrigues WL, Céu EGO, de Lima BH, Jalal A, Muraoka T, Buzetti S, Lavres J, Teixeira Filho MCM. Co-Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium sp. Enhances Nitrogen Uptake and Yield in Field-Grown Cowpea and Did Not Change N-Fertilizer Recovery. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11141847. [PMID: 35890481 PMCID: PMC9321259 DOI: 10.3390/plants11141847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the effects of Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium sp. co-inoculation coupled with N application on soil N levels and N in plants (total N, nitrate N-NO3− and ammonium N-NH4+), photosynthetic pigments, cowpea plant biomass and grain yield. An isotopic technique was employed to evaluate 15N fertilizer recovery and derivation. Field trials involved two inoculations—(i) single Bradyrhizobium sp. and (ii) Bradyrhizobium sp. + A. brasilense co-inoculation—and four N fertilizer rates (0, 20, 40 and 80 kg ha−1). The co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium sp. + A. brasilense increased cowpea N uptake (an increase from 10 to 14%) and grain yield (an average increase of 8%) compared to the standard inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. specifically derived from soil and other sources without affecting 15N fertilizer recovery. There is no need for the supplementation of N via mineral fertilizers when A. brasilense co-inoculation is performed in a cowpea crop. However, even in the case of an NPK basal fertilization, applied N rates should remain below 20 kg N ha−1 when co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and A. brasilense is performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Shintate Galindo
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil; (T.M.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Paulo Humberto Pagliari
- Southwest Research and Outreach Center, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Lamberton, MN 56152, USA;
| | | | - Vinicius Martins Silva
- Department of Biology Applied to Agriculture, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil;
| | - Guilherme Carlos Fernandes
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
| | - Willian Lima Rodrigues
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
| | - Elaine Garcia Oliveira Céu
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
| | - Bruno Horschut de Lima
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
| | - Arshad Jalal
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
| | - Takashi Muraoka
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil; (T.M.); (J.L.)
| | - Salatiér Buzetti
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
| | - José Lavres
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil; (T.M.); (J.L.)
| | - Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho
- Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 1585-000, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (W.L.R.); (E.G.O.C.); (B.H.d.L.); (A.J.); (S.B.); (M.C.M.T.F.)
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Bintarti AF, Kearns PJ, Sulesky-Grieb A, Shade A. Abiotic Treatment to Common Bean Plants Results in an Altered Endophytic Seed Microbiome. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0021021. [PMID: 35377190 PMCID: PMC9045313 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00210-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been a growing interest in the seed microbiome due to its important role as an end and starting point of plant microbiome assembly that can have consequences for plant health. However, the effect of abiotic conditions on the seed microbial community remains unknown. We performed a pilot study in a controlled growth chamber to investigate how the endophytic seed microbiome of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. [var. Red Hawk]) was altered under abiotic treatments relevant for crop management with changing climate. Bean plants were subjected to one of three treatments: 66% water withholding to simulate mild drought, 50% Hoagland nutrient solution to simulate fertilization, or control with sufficient water and baseline nutrition. We performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) amplicon sequencing of the endophytic DNA to assess seed bacterial/archaeal and fungal community structure, respectively. We found that variability in the seed microbiome structure was high, while α-diversity was low, with tens of taxa present. Water withholding and nutrient addition significantly altered the seed microbiome structure for bacterial/archaeal communities compared to the control, and each treatment resulted in a distinct microbiome structure. Conversely, there were no statistically supported differences in the fungal microbiome across treatments. These promising results suggest that further investigation is needed to better understand abiotic or stress-induced changes in the seed microbiome, the mechanisms that drive those changes, and their implications for the health and stress responses of the next plant generation. IMPORTANCE Seed microbiome members initiate the assembly of plant-associated microbial communities, but the environmental drivers of endophytic seed microbiome composition are unclear. Here, we exposed plants to short-term drought and fertilizer treatments during early vegetative growth and quantified the microbiome composition of the seeds that were ultimately produced. We found that seeds produced by plants stressed by water limitation or receiving nutrient addition had statistically different endophytic bacterial/archaeal microbiome compositions from each other and from seeds produced by control plants. This work suggests that the abiotic experience of a parental plant can influence the composition of its seed microbiome, with unknown consequences for the next plant generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Fina Bintarti
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Patrick J. Kearns
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Abby Sulesky-Grieb
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Ashley Shade
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- The Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Losa A, Vorster J, Cominelli E, Sparvoli F, Paolo D, Sala T, Ferrari M, Carbonaro M, Marconi S, Camilli E, Reboul E, Waswa B, Ekesa B, Aragão F, Kunert K. Drought and heat affect common bean minerals and human diet—What we know and where to go. Food Energy Secur 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/fes3.351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Losa
- Council for Research in Agriculture and Economics Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CREA‐GB) Montanaso Italy
| | - Juan Vorster
- Department Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Eleonora Cominelli
- National Research Council Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR‐IBBA) Milan Italy
| | - Francesca Sparvoli
- National Research Council Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR‐IBBA) Milan Italy
| | - Dario Paolo
- National Research Council Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR‐IBBA) Milan Italy
| | - Tea Sala
- Council for Research in Agriculture and Economics Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CREA‐GB) Montanaso Italy
| | - Marika Ferrari
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | - Marina Carbonaro
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | - Stefania Marconi
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | - Emanuela Camilli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | | | - Boaz Waswa
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) CIAT Regional Office for Africa Nairobi Kenya
| | - Beatrice Ekesa
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) CIAT Regional Office for Africa Nairobi Kenya
| | | | - Karl Kunert
- Department Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
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Wilker J, Humphries S, Rosas-Sotomayor JC, Gómez Cerna M, Torkamaneh D, Edwards M, Navabi A, Pauls KP. Genetic Diversity, Nitrogen Fixation, and Water Use Efficiency in a Panel of Honduran Common Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces and Modern Genotypes. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9091238. [PMID: 32961677 PMCID: PMC7569834 DOI: 10.3390/plants9091238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) provides critical nutrition and a livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers worldwide. Beans engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with Rhizobia. Honduran hillside farmers farm marginal land and utilize few production inputs; therefore, bean varieties with high SNF capacity and environmental resiliency would be of benefit to them. We explored the diversity for SNF, agronomic traits, and water use efficiency (WUE) among 70 Honduran landrace, participatory bred (PPB), and conventionally bred bean varieties (HON panel) and 6 North American check varieties in 3 low-N field trials in Ontario, Canada and Honduras. Genetic diversity was measured with a 6K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and phenotyping for agronomic, SNF, and WUE traits was carried out. STRUCTURE analysis revealed two subpopulations with admixture between the subpopulations. Nucleotide diversity was greater in the landraces than the PPB varieties across the genome, and multiple genomic regions were identified where population genetic differentiation between the landraces and PPB varieties was evident. Significant differences were found between varieties and breeding categories for agronomic traits, SNF, and WUE. Landraces had above average SNF capacity, conventional varieties showed higher yields, and PPB varieties performed well for WUE. Varieties with the best SNF capacity could be used in further participatory breeding efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wilker
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (J.W.); (D.T.); (M.E.)
| | - Sally Humphries
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Juan Carlos Rosas-Sotomayor
- Departamento de Ciencia y Producción Agropecuaria, Escuela Agrícola Panamericana, Zamorano, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras;
| | - Marvin Gómez Cerna
- Fundación para la Investigación Participativa con Agricultores de Honduras, La Ceiba, Atlántida 561, Honduras;
| | - Davoud Torkamaneh
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (J.W.); (D.T.); (M.E.)
| | - Michelle Edwards
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (J.W.); (D.T.); (M.E.)
| | - Alireza Navabi
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (J.W.); (D.T.); (M.E.)
| | - K. Peter Pauls
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (J.W.); (D.T.); (M.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-519-824-4120 (ext. 54136)
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Reinprecht Y, Schram L, Marsolais F, Smith TH, Hill B, Pauls KP. Effects of Nitrogen Application on Nitrogen Fixation in Common Bean Production. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1172. [PMID: 32849727 PMCID: PMC7424037 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The nitrogen fixing ability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in association with rhizobia is often characterized as poor compared to other legumes, and nitrogen fertilizers are commonly used in bean production to achieve high yields, which in general inhibits nitrogen fixation. In addition, plants cannot take up all the nitrogen applied to the soil as a fertilizer leading to runoff and groundwater contamination. The overall objective of this work is to reduce use of nitrogen fertilizer in common bean production. This would be a major advance in profitability for the common bean industry in Canada and would significantly improve the ecological footprint of the crop. In the current work, 22 bean genotypes [including recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the Mist × Sanilac population and a non-nodulating mutant (R99)] were screened for their capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen under four nitrogen regimes. The genotypes were evaluated in replicated field trials on N-poor soils over three years for the percent nitrogen derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa), yield, and a number of yield-related traits. Bean genotypes differed for all analyzed traits, and the level of nitrogen significantly affected most of the traits, including %Ndfa and yield in all three years. In contrast, application of rhizobia significantly affected only few traits, and the effect was inconsistent among the years. Nitrogen application reduced symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) to various degrees in different bean genotypes. This variation suggests that SNF in common bean can be improved through breeding and selection for the ability of bean genotypes to fix nitrogen in the presence of reduced fertilizer levels. Moreover, genotypes like RIL_38, RIL_119, and RIL_131, being both high yielding and good nitrogen fixers, have potential for simultaneous improvement of both traits. However, breeding advancement might be slow due to an inconsistent correlation between these traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarmilla Reinprecht
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Yarmilla Reinprecht,
| | - Lyndsay Schram
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Frédéric Marsolais
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas H. Smith
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Brett Hill
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Karl Peter Pauls
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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