EFFECT OF THE CO-INOCULATION OF LUCERNE (MEDICAGO SATIVA L.) WITH SINORHIZOBIUM MELILOTI AND HERBASPIRILLUM FRISINGENSE IN RELATION TO THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BACTERIAL STRAIN

The aim of the performed experiments was to analyse relationships occurring between endophytic bacteria from the Herbaspirillum genus and Sinorhizobium meliloti Bp nodule bacteria and to examine the condition of plants subjected to coinoculation with the above-mentioned strains in in vitro conditions. In experiments examining the impact of Herbaspirillum frisingense on Sinorhizobium meliloti BP, the stimulation of growth of inoculated bacteria from the Sinorhizobium genus was recorded in all three combinations (48-hour culturing, sediment and supernatant). On the other hand, the examination of interactions between the Sinorhizobium meliloti strain and Herbaspirillum frisingense strain revealed that in the case of culture and supernatant, an antagonistic action was recorded. Besides, it was found that such coinoculation exerted a beneficial influence on the process of seed lucerne symbiosis and yielding as confirmed by increased numbers of root nodules, higher nitrogenase activity and greater plant mass.