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Effect of Rhizobium–Azospirillum coinoculation on nitrogen fixation and yield of two contrasting Phaseolus vulgaris L. genotypes cultivated across different environments in Cuba

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Abstract

Azospirillum spp. have shown potential to enhance nodulation and plant growth of legumes when coinoculated with Rhizobium. The effect of Azospirillum on the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is, however, dependent on the host genotype used. Previous greenhouse experiments identified two genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), BAT477 and DOR364, contrasting in nodulation response to Azospirillum when coinoculated with Rhizobium. Genetic analysis revealed a genetic basis (Quantitative Trait Loci) on the bean genome related to the differential responsiveness to Azospirillum between the two bean genotypes. In this study, on-station and on-farm field experiments in different regions in Cuba were conducted to evaluate the agronomic relevance of the differences in response to Azospirillum–Rhizobium coinoculation between the two genotypes BAT477 and DOR364. It was observed that Azospirillum–Rhizobium coinoculation as compared to single Rhizobium inoculation increased the amount of fixed nitrogen and the yield of DOR364 across all sites. For BAT477, on the contrary, a negative effect of Azospirillum–Rhizobium coinoculation on yield and nitrogen fixation was observed on most of the sites as compared to single Rhizobium inoculation. The modified stability regression equations resulting from this study may contribute to predict how a combination of genotype and inoculum will perform at a certain environmental setting. This study highlights the importance of genotype × inocula interactions in agricultural outputs and establishes a link between greenhouse phenotype, genetic background and performance in the field.

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Acknowledgement

R.R. is a recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the ‘Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad (VLIR)’. We thank the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) for the infrastructure of the field trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, K.U. Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Roseline Remans, Lara Ramaekers, Sarah Schelkens & Jos Vanderleyden

  2. Instituto de Suelos, MINAG, Autopista Costa-Costa y Ant. Carretera de Vento, Capdevila, Boyeros, Havana, Cuba

    German Hernandez, Aurelio Garcia, Nancy Mendez, Vidalina Toscano, Miguel Mulling & Lazaro Galvez

  3. Estacion Experimental Forestal, Viñales Km 20 Carretera a Viñales, Piñar del Rio, Cuba

    Jorge Luis Reyes

Authors
  1. Roseline Remans
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  2. Lara Ramaekers
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  3. Sarah Schelkens
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  4. German Hernandez
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  5. Aurelio Garcia
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  6. Jorge Luis Reyes
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  7. Nancy Mendez
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  8. Vidalina Toscano
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  9. Miguel Mulling
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  10. Lazaro Galvez
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  11. Jos Vanderleyden
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jos Vanderleyden.

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Responsible Editor: Petra Marschner.

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Table S1

Data of plant growth and symbiotic parameters measured between V2 and V3 and between R6 and R7. In Havana and Holguin, samples were taken at 21 and 42 DAP for V2–V3 and R6–R7, respectively. In Piñar del Rio, samples were taken at 29 and 47 DAP for V2–V3 and R6–R7, respectively. Values given represent averages of four plot repeats ± standard errors (ANOVA). Table of primers used for RT-PCR (DOC 26.5 kb)

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Remans, R., Ramaekers, L., Schelkens, S. et al. Effect of Rhizobium–Azospirillum coinoculation on nitrogen fixation and yield of two contrasting Phaseolus vulgaris L. genotypes cultivated across different environments in Cuba. Plant Soil 312, 25–37 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9606-4

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