Preincubation of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli with Jasmonate and Genistein Signal Molecules Increases Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation and Biomass Production

Poustini, K.; Mabood, F.; Smith, D. L.

Preincubation of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli with Jasmonate and Genistein Signal Molecules Increases Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation and Biomass Production

Authors

K. Poustini ¹

F. Mabood ²

D. L. Smith ²

¹ Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran. Karaj, P. O. Box: 31585-1519, Islamic Republic of Iran.

² Plant Science Department, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Sainte Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada.

Abstract

The objective of this research work was to study the effect of Rhizobium leguminosarum pre-induced with genistein (G) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) on nodulation, nitrogen fixation and early growth of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Four day-old seed-lings were transferred to pots, containing sterilized sand and turface (2:1 v:v) mixture and, receiving Hoagland’s nutrient solution, without nitrogen. The plants were grown in a growth chamber using a randomized complete block design with six replications. The rhizobia were cultured in TY medium and incubated with G, and/or MJ. The incubated rhizobia were used after 24 hours to inoculate the bean seedlings. The results showed that both G and MJ enhanced the nodule number, nitrogen content per plant, and plant dry matter. Genistein and MJ, when applied together to cultures, showed synergistic effects on all the characters studied. The results of this study indicated that MJ alone, or in com-bination with G, can be used to promote bean nodulation, nitrogen fixation and early plant growth.

Keywords

Genistein

Jasmonates

Nitrogen fixation

Nodulation

Phaseolus vulgaris

Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. Phaseoli