Characterization of rhizobia nodulating chickpea in Tunisia

One hundred and fifty rhizobia nodulating chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were isolated from soils sampled in different regions of Tunisia. Variability in the time at which nodules appeared after plant inoculation was observed among these isolates. Five isolates induced nodules two weeks after inoculation, whereas, with the remaining 145 isolates, nodules were observed after more than four weeks. On the basis of PCR/RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA, isolates from the first group were classified as Mesorhizobium mediterraneum, and isolates from the second group as Sinorhizobium medicae. The respective taxonomic position of both types of isolates was confirmed by their symbiotic properties. M. mediterraneum isolates did not nodulate Medicago sativa and formed effective nodules on C. arietinum while S. medicae isolates were able to form effective nodules on M. sativa but formed ineffective nodules on C. arietinum, as did reference strains of the species.