Symbiotic Performance and Characterization of Pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) Rhizobia Occurring in South African Soils

Francina L. Bopape, Chrizelle W. Beukes, Kopotsa Katlego, Ahmed I. Hassen, Emma T. Steenkamp and Eastonce T. Gwata ()
Additional contact information
Francina L. Bopape: Agricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa
Chrizelle W. Beukes: The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK
Kopotsa Katlego: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Ahmed I. Hassen: Agricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa
Emma T. Steenkamp: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Eastonce T. Gwata: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is an important grain legume, which, like several other legumes, depends on the process of biological nitrogen fixation for its nitrogen (N 2 ) requirement by forming a symbiotic association with rhizobia. Compared to other tropical legumes, however, the productivity of pigeonpea in South Africa is low, despite the extensive interests in developing it for wider markets. To assist this process, the objectives of the current study were to (i) characterize putative indigenous rhizobial strains that were previously derived from local soils with no previous history of legume cultivation and (ii) confirm their nodulation abilities on a local landrace and a genetically improved (exotic) genotype of pigeonpea. DNA-based analyses using the 16S rRNA and recA genes showed that the strains predominantly represented Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium , although we also recovered Phyllobacterium and Paraburkholderia . These rhizobia nodulated both the local landrace and the improved pigeonpea genotype that were included for comparative purposes. In many cases, rhizobia performed similarly on the two genotypes, although the locally sourced landrace mostly performed better in terms of nodulation and plant biomass. While the current study generated vital information regarding the diversity of indigenous rhizobia associating with pigeonpea, further screening (including field inoculation trials) would be necessary to identify possible elite nitrogen fixing rhizobial strains for development as inoculants to enhance South African pigeonpea production.

Keywords: grain legume; nodulation; plant growth promotion; alphaproteobacteria; betaproteobacteria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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