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Improving N2 fixation from the plant down: Compatibility of Trifolium subterraneum L. cultivars with soil rhizobia can influence symbiotic performance

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Abstract

Plant genotypes of Trifolium subterraneum L. (subterranean clover) were evaluated for differences in symbiotic N2 fixation with soil rhizobia, with the long-term aim of using plant selection to overcome sub-optimal N2 fixation associated with poorly effective soil rhizobia. Symbiotic performance (SP) was assessed for 49 genotypes of subterranean clover with each of four pure Rhizobium strains isolated from soil. Plants were grown in N free media in the greenhouse and their shoot dry weights measured and expressed as a percentage of dry weight with R. leguminosarm bv. trifolii WSM1325, the recommended commercial inoculant. Average SP with two Rhizobium strains (H and J) ranged from completely ineffective to 80% of potential for the subterranean clover genotypes. Two clover cultivars with high (cv. Campeda) and low (cv. Clare) SP values were investigated in more detail. Campeda typically fixed more N2 than Clare when inoculated with 30 soil extracts (4.2 vs 2.4 mg N2 fixed/shoot) and with 14 pure strains isolated from those soils (4.2 vs 2.2 mg N2 fixed/shoot). The poor performance of Clare could be attributed to interruptions at multiple stages of the symbiotic association, from nodule initiation (less nodules), nodule development (small, white nodules), through to reduced nodule function (N2 fixed/mg nodule) depending on the inoculation treatment. Through the careful use of subterranean clover genotypes by plant breeders it should be possible to make significant gains in the SP of future subterranean clover cultivars.

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Acknowledgements

This work was carried out through the National Rhizobium Program which was jointly funded by GRDC (Grains Research and Development Institute) and AWI (Australian Wool Innovation). Seed was provided by the Plant Genetic Resource Centre at SARDI and Genetic Resource Centre for Temperate Pasture Legumes in Western Australia. The Authors wish to thank Mr Nigel Charman, Drs Phil Nichols and Klaus Oldach for helpful discussion and research advice, and Dr Murray Unkovich for comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Plant and Soil Health, South Australian Research and Development Institute, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

    E. A. Drew & R. A. Ballard

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Drew, E.A., Ballard, R.A. Improving N2 fixation from the plant down: Compatibility of Trifolium subterraneum L. cultivars with soil rhizobia can influence symbiotic performance. Plant Soil 327, 261–277 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0052-8

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