Plant growth, nitrogen fixation and seed yield response of ten cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) cultivars to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and endomycorrhizal fungi
1989
Rajapalese, S. | Miller, J.C. (Massey Univ., Palmerston North (New Zealand)) | Taber, R.A. (Texas A and M Univ., College Station (USA))
Interaction between inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and endomycorrhizal fungi Glomus fasciculatum in ten cowpea cultivars was evaluated in a field experiment. Cowpea cultivars were grown in three soil treatments including, fumigation with methyl bromide (F), inoculation with G. fasciculatum after fumigation (GF), and natural soil (NS) which contains native mycorrhizal fungi and Bradyrhizobium, with and without bradyrhizobial inoculation. Shoot growth of cowpea was affected by the triple interaction between soil treatment, bradyrhizobial inoculation and cultivar. In most cultivars shoot dry weight was reduced in GF treatment compared to F treatment, when grown without bradyrhizobial inoculation. Bradyrhizobial inoculation was identified as a factor that can alter response to VA mycorrhizal fungi in a given cultivar. Soil fumigation reduced all N fixation variables measured. Inoculation with G. fasciculatum after fumigation did not lead to the recovery of reduced N fixation. Cultivar plays an important role in the cowpea-mycorrhizal-bradyrhizobial symbiosis. Careful selection of cultivars is necessary to maximize the benefits obtained from beneficial microorganisms existing in local soil. Seed yield of cowpea was influenced only by the cultivar
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