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Rhizomatous Birdsfoot Trefoil Exhibits a Unique Response to Nitrogen-Free Conditions

Plant Science Unit, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211

Paul R. Beuselinck and Pedro A. Balatti

USDA-ARS, Plant Genetics Res. Unit, Columbia, MO 65211
CICBA Cátedra de Microbiología, INFIVE, Univ. Nac. de la Plata, La Plata, BA, Argentina

^* Corresponding author (kallenbachr{at}missouri.edu).

New genotypes of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) from Morocco exhibit rhizomes, but little is known about their N₂-fixation characteristics. Our objective was to evaluate the N₂-fixation capacity of rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil infected by native rhizobia or by strains used in commercial inoculants. An additional objective was to assess the N₂-fixing potential of two Moroccan isolates, R.L. 5797 and R.L. 5758, on commercial cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil. Seedlings of ‘Norcen’, ‘AU Dewey’, and a Moroccan rhizomatous entry, designated ‘RBRC’, were individually inoculated with commercial strains BFT027, BFT028, BFT030, 1710-2, CB756, or strains R.L. 5797 or R.L. 5758. Control treatments were noninoculated seedlings with or without supplemental N. Surprisingly, the seedling mass of RBRC was equal (P > 0.05) for all treatments. Norcen exhibited its greatest seedling mass when inoculated with strain BFT027; AU Dewey, with strain R.L. 5797. The rhizomatous RBRC did not show specificity for native Moroccan isolates of rhizobia, but these isolates effectively nodulated the commercial cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil.

Received for publication September 15, 1998.