Interaction of Phaseolus vulgaris with thermotolerant isolates ofRhizobium leguminosarum biovarphaseoli from Kenyan soils

Abstract

Thermotolerant strains ofRhizobium leguminosarum biovarphaseoli were isolated from nodules ofPhaseolus vulgaris grown in Kenyan soils, where high soil temperatures often exceed 40°C during sunny days. The isolates varied in their maximum growth laboratory temperature with two strains, 17 and 29B, able to grow at 42°C on yeast extract/mannitol agar media and at 40°C in liquid medium. These strains also survived better in moist clay soil at 38°C and 42°C and on seeds at room temperature but did not grow as well as several of the other strains at low pH. The thermotolerant strains nodulated three bean cultivars in a rooting medium that attained a daily maximum temperature of 36°C to 40°C but they varied in effectiveness according to the cultivar used.