Promotion of Peanut Growth by Co-inoculation with Selected Strains of Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum

Abstract

The ability of inoculated rhizobial strains to increase root nodulation of host legumes often depends on their competitiveness with existing native soil strains. Results of studies to date on rhizobial inoculation for improvement of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production in Argentina have been inconsistent and controversial. In many cases, nodulation and yield of peanut crops have been increased by inoculation of specific rhizobial strains. Native peanut-nodulating strains are generally present in soils of agricultural areas, but their growth-promoting effect is often lower than that of inoculated strains. Many species of the genus Bradyrhizobium interact in a host-specific manner with legume species and form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Other free-living rhizobacteria such as species of the genus Azospirillum are facultatively capable of interacting with legume roots and promoting plant growth. We evaluated and compared the effects of various single inoculation and co-inoculation treatments on peanut growth parameters in greenhouse and field experiments. In the greenhouse studies, co-inoculation with various Bradyrhizobium strains (native 15A and PC34, and recommended peanut inoculant C145), and Azospirillum brasilense strain Az39 generally resulted in increases in the measured parameters. The growth-promoting effect of 15A was similar to or higher than that of C145. In the field studies, 15A-Az39 co-inoculation had a greater promoting effect on measured growth parameters than did C145-Az39 co-inoculation. Our findings indicate that careful selection of native rhizobacterial strains adapted to peanut soils is useful in strategies for growth promotion, and that 15A in particular is a promising candidate for future inoculant formulation.