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Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of root nodules rhizobia of Medicago littoralis Rhode and Melilotus indicus (L.) All. growing in the Oasis of Touggourt, Oued Righ Valley, in the Algerian Sahara

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Abstract

Forty rhizobial strains were isolated from root nodules of Medicago littoralis Rhode and Melilotus indicus (L.) harvested from the sandy soils of Touggourt’s oases in the Oued Righ Valley, Algerian Sahara. The isolates were studied for their cultural, biochemical and symbiotic effectiveness. All of them were fast-growing bacteria; utilized a wide range of carbon sources, produced abundant extracellular polysaccharides, tolerated high concentrations of NaCl (up to 2.5 %), grew at temperatures between 28 and 45 °C and at pH values between 4.5 and 9. The isolates were sensitive to the antibiotics kanamycin, tetracycline and rifampicin but showed resistance to neomycin and erythromycin. All the isolates induced the formation of effective nodules on their host plants. On the basis of the physiological, biochemical and symbiotic effectiveness, we selected six strains MD05, MD09, MD12, ML08, ML17 and ML22 for genotypic characterization. Phylogenetic analysis of the selected strains based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene showed that these strains of bacteria were affiliated to the Ensifer meliloti group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology (LABM), Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University Badji Mokhtar Annaba, B.P. 12, Sidi Amar, 23200, Annaba, Algeria

    Souad Baba Arbi, Djamel Chekireb, Dahbia Cheriet & Akila Ouartsi

  2. Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy

    Paola Quatrini & Valentina Catania

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  1. Souad Baba Arbi
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  2. Djamel Chekireb
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Correspondence to Souad Baba Arbi.

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Baba Arbi, S., Chekireb, D., Quatrini, P. et al. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of root nodules rhizobia of Medicago littoralis Rhode and Melilotus indicus (L.) All. growing in the Oasis of Touggourt, Oued Righ Valley, in the Algerian Sahara. Symbiosis 66, 75–87 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-015-0336-0

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