Native Mesorhizobium strains improve yield and nutrient composition of the common bird's-foot trefoil grown in an acid soil

Acid soils occupy more than 3.95 billion ha of the world soils, and finding an adequate solution for limitation crop production on these is indispensable. Using highly effective rhizobia tolerant to low pH enables successful nodulation quality legumes in acid soils. In this study, isolation characterization native associated with root nodules bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) from Serbia were conducted. Their effects plant yield nutrient composition grown soil (pH 5.4), a pot experiment evaluated. Out 72 strains isolated, 40 could nodulate when reinoculated test tubes under gnotobiotic conditions, 23 isolates showed high nitrogen-fixing efficiency. Overall, all grow well medium between 4.5 8. Indole-3-acetic (IAA) was detected nodulating 24 solubilize inorganic phosphates. The identification selected that belong Mesorhizobium genus (M. tianshanense, M. erdmanii, cantuariense, loti, jarvisii caraganae). Four acid-tolerant (1M12, 631oz, U1C, 754) efficiency vitro particular PGP traits soil. All applied bacterial treatments (except 1M12) increased shoot dry weight plants (up 50%), compared control. addition, N uptake N% up 20% by inoculation. influenced concentrations improved macro (P, K, Ca, Mg) micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn, B) material. obtained results indicated satisfactory mineral L. be achieved inoculation strains.