GROWTH, MINERAL ACQUISITION AND ION UPTAKE RESPONSE OF COMMON BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.) TO INOCULATION WITH RHIZOBIUM UNDER DIFFERENT SALT

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium Leguminosarum by. phaseoli strains isolated from common bean in comparison to standard bacterial culture under NaCl salinity stress conditions. The effect of seed Rhizobium inoculation and NaCl levels (control 0, 5 mM, 10 mM, 20 mM and 40 mM) on mineral accumulation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied under greenhouse condition. A commercial common bean cultivar (Akman 98) was inoculated with R. tropici strain CIAT899 and local Rhizobium. The results showed that the application of salt significantly decreased both concentration and the accumulation of most micro and macronutrients both in leaf and biomass. The bacterial inoculation had a significant effect on Ca++, Fe accumulation and ion uptake (K+ + P + Ca++) + Na+ and on P, Mg-++,Mg- Mn and Zn contents of leaf. However, the effect of inoculation on Na+, K+, Na+/K+, N and Cu contents of the leaf were insignificant. Significant interaction was detected between inoculation and salt concentration. Inoculation with Rhizobium phaseoli could work as a useful means for alleviating salinity stress in salt-sensitive plants.