Browsing by Author "LEMI TESFA TAREKEGN"

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    ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION, SYMBIOTIC PERFORMANCE AND HOST RANGE OF INDIGENOUS SOYBEAN (Glycine max L.) NODULATING RHIZOBIA ISOLATED FROM SELECTED SMALL HOLDER FARMERS’ FIELDS OF HAWELLA WOREDA, SIDAMA REGIONAL STATE
    (2023-11) LEMI TESFA TAREKEGN
    Soybean (Glycine max L.), a protein and oil-rich crop, plays a significant role in Ethiopia's agriculture, contributing to nearly 18% of the country's total oilseed production. Despite its inherent ability for nitrogen fixation, soybeans often fail to reach their full potential when introduced to new regions, primarily due to the lack of compatible rhizobia strains or ineffective nodulation. This study aimed to address this issue by isolating, characterizing, and evaluating the symbiotic efficiency and host range of indigenous soybean nodulating rhizobia from smallholder farmers’ fields in selected Kebeles of Hawella woreda in the Sidama region where soybean was recently introduced. Six bulk soil samples were collected from soybeangrown fields for trapping the rhizobia using soybeans. Of these, 66.6% of the samples supported nodulation under greenhouse conditions. Eight rhizobia isolates were obtained from the root nodules of soybean plants. These isolates were found to be Gram-negative, and catalase-positive, and exhibited diverse physiological and biochemical characteristics. In the nodulation assays, all isolates formed nodules on the soybean variety and were successfully reisolated from the nodules, authenticating them as rhizobia. The relative symbiotic effectiveness of the isolates ranged from 48.31% to 102.24%, indicating their potential to enhance soybean productivity in the region. These isolates were also able to nodulate mung bean and haricot bean but not peanut, demonstrating their broad host range within tropical legumes except for specific nodulation of peanuts. The study concludes that these indigenous rhizobia strains could potentially play a significant role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing soybean production and contributing to food security in the region. The findings also suggest that further research is needed to explore the potential application of these indigenous rhizobia strains in biofertilizer production and sustainable agriculture practices