Variability of nodulation and dinitrogen fixation capacity among soybean cultivars

 In order to identify soybean cultivars with higher biological N₂ fixation capacities, North American and Brazilian soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivars, belonging to maturity groups VI–VIII, were evaluated for nodulation parameters and N₂ fixation rates. The symbiotic performance of 152 cultivars was evaluated in pots containing 4 kg soil with an established population of the three Bradyrhizobium elkanii strains [29w (SEMIA 5019):SEMIA 566 : SEMIA 587, 22%:36%:34%] which are established in most Brazilian soils cultivated with soybean. Differences were verified among cultivars, with some accumulating up to twice as much nodule dry weight and N in tissues as others. The variability among cultivars was also confirmed when six of them were used in a field experiment, resulting in differences in nodulation, yield and total N accumulated in grains. The analysis of nodule occupancy in 12 cultivars grown either under sterile conditions and receiving a double inoculum and N-free nutrient solution, or in pots containing soil with an established population of bradyrhizobia, showed the preference of cultivars for specific strains. Received: 7 December 1998