Effect of drought on Bradyrhizobium japonicum populations in Midwest soils |
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Authors: | Coralie Barthelemy-Delaux David Marburger Pierre-Marc Delaux Shawn Conley Jean-Michel Ané |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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Abstract: | Background and aims Bradyrhizobium japonicum and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) form a symbiotic association which allows for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to help meet the nitrogen (N) requirement of soybean plants. Rhizobial inoculants are not always used in soybean production in the Midwestern USA because of high naturalized soil populations, but drought conditions experienced in the region during the 2012 growing season may have led to a decline in numbers resulting in the need for inoculation the following growing season. Therefore, the effect of drought on B. japonicum population size was investigated in this study. Methods Drought conditions, 8 weeks long or 4 weeks long preceded (STOP) or followed (START) by 4 weeks of normal watering, were simulated in two contrasting soil types in a greenhouse setting with soybeans as host plants. Drought conditions were monitored by measuring water content. Population size of B. japonicum was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and most probable number (MPN) methods and compared to population from non-drought treatment. Results Using both quantification methods, the response of B. japonicum to drought treatments was minimal. Conclusions Drought conditions 4 to 8 weeks long did not reduce B. japonicum population size to levels which would affect soybean growth and development. |
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