EFFECTS OF COMBINED INOCULATION OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT (Vigna subterranean L. Verdc.) WITH GLOMUS MOSSEA AND BRADYHRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM ON NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS UPTAKE IN SHOOT, PLANT BIOMASS, LEAF CHLOROPHYLL AND MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION EFFICIENCY (MIE).

Abstract

The response of Bambara groundnut to co-inoculation with Abuscular mychorrhizal fungi (G. mossea) and Bradhyrhizobium japonicum (strain USDA110) with regard to leaf chlorophyll, percentage shoot nitrogen and phosphorus, nodule weight and plant biomass was studied. Bambara plants were grown under screen house conditions in pots. Plants were inoculated with 1ml of B. japonicum USDA 110 strain (10⁹ cfu /ml), Mychorrizal was applied to the plants 10g, and 20g (90 spores/g) and water was applied at 10ml, 20 ml and 50ml every other day. The obtained results showed that dual inoculation activity was able to improve both nitrogen and phosphorus in plant shoot, MIE, but did not improve biomass and leaf chlorophyll when compared with plants subjected to single inoculation with only G. mossea and only B. japonicum. More Nitrogen and Phosphorus was retained in the shoot of plants co-inoculated with B. japonicum and 20g G. mossea when given 50ml of water and also had higher biomass. Leaf chlorophyll reduced in plants as flowering approached. B. japonicum was able to positively influence and establish symbiosis with G.mossea and synergistically effectively act as “mycorrhiza helper bacteria” (MHB) when both were co-inoculated in Bambara plant.