Phenotypic and molecular assessment of chickpea rhizobia from different chickpea cultivars of India.

摘要: In the present study, heterogeneity in natural chickpea rhizobia populations associated with 18 different (Cicer arientinum) cultivars of India was investigated. Physiological diversity 20 characterized based on phenotypic parameters such as Bromothymol blue (BTB) test, pH, temperature and salinity tolerance. Based response to BTB test pH tolerance, all were further divided into slow growers/alkali producers (14 isolates) fast growers/acid (6 isolates). The (upto 40 °C) (NaCl) tolerance 6%) tests provided a wide description physiological among rhizobial isolates. intrinsic antibiotic resistance each isolate against 14 antibiotics distinguished five clades at level 80% similarity coefficient. Further, UPGMA phylogeny carbon utilization profile, isolates dispersed six clusters 85% coefficient, which indicated remarkable variability rhizobia. evaluation nodule-forming efficiency revealed that ACR15 more competent for nodule formation than other representative strain from metabolic cluster subjected molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene characterization. Neighbour-joining method-based sequence high degree species prominent identified Mesorhizobium ciceri, while showed genus. study contributed knowledge besides M. ciceri mediterraneum, can also be nodulated by many native indicates impact exploration promising populations. These findings may support investigation symbiotic well stress responsive genes leading develop effective inoculant strains agricultural applications.