• Soil Health
• University of Saskatchewan

Objective

To collect and identify Rhizobium species and strains from native legume hosts from different regions of Saskatchewan. To collect and identify Rhizobium species and strains from native legume hosts in Saskatchewan at different times, representing contrasting climatic conditions. To evaluate Rhizobium species and strains for effective nodulation of major pulse crop species.

Outcome

A collection of bacteria isolated from nodules on native legume plants was established. All of the bacterial isolates were purified and pure cultures were used to inoculate peas, lentis,l and chickpesa. All but two of the isolates increased shoot N relative to control plants that were inoculated with water (not bacteria) in at least one of the crop species. We will continue to add to the collection and in the future will use the collection as a resource for identifying rhizobia that are adapted to the extreme weather conditions experienced in Saskatchewan.

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