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Differential reactions of wheat and pea genotypes to root inoculation with growth-affecting rhizosphere bacteria

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Abstract

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pea (Pisum spp.) genotypes were tested for reaction to root inoculation with rhizosphere bacteria affecting plant growth. Plant response was studied in greenhouse experiments after treatment of seedlings with bacteria suspended in nutrient broth. Significant genotype variation was found in both wheat and pea in terms of shoot dry weight and severity of bacteria-induced leaf symptoms. For most bacterial isolates tested, there was good correlation between ratings of leaf symptoms 7 to 14 days after inoculation and growth inhibition measured after four weeks. Interactions between isolates and plant genotypes were significant in both wheat and pea (P=0.0024 and 0.0001, respectively), but genotypes with sensitivity or tolerance to most isolates could be distinguished. In an outdoor pot experiment, two of the bacterial isolates caused delayed plant development and differential decreases in grain yield of wheat genotypes. The hypothesis that the reaction of wheat genotypes to the tested becteria was related to their influence on bacterial establishment in the rhizosphere could not be substantiated.

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Åström, B., Gerhardson, B. Differential reactions of wheat and pea genotypes to root inoculation with growth-affecting rhizosphere bacteria. Plant Soil 109, 263–269 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202093

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202093

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