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Differences between cereal crop cultivars in root-associated nitrogen fixation, possible causes of variable yield response to seed inoculation

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Abstract

Large differences in N2-ase activity with fractions of active plants from 3–67% and maximal activities from 3–35 nmol C2H4.h-1 were found between sterile, Azospirillum-inoculated seedlings of 14 German cereal cultivars. Examples of similar cultivar differences in gnotobiotic or unsterile cereals in response to Azospirillum inoculation, in root exudation and the specificity of bacteria-root interactions are reviewed. As possible causes of yield responses to bacterial seed inoculation N2-fixation, plant growth regulating metabolites and bacterial interaction with root pathogens are discussed. The need for suitable screening methods to select and breed cultivars with desirable responses to beneficial rhizosphere bacteria is pointed out.

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  1. Institut für Bodenoiologie, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Bundesallee 50, D-3300, Braunschweig, FRG

    G. Jagnow

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Jagnow, G. Differences between cereal crop cultivars in root-associated nitrogen fixation, possible causes of variable yield response to seed inoculation. Plant Soil 123, 255–259 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011278

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