Soybean Genotypic Variation for Nitrogen Fixation

Eighteen soybean ( Glycine max L.] Merr) cultivars from maturity groups V and VI were screened with two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains (USDA 110 and TAL 378) in the greenhouse to determine N₂ fixation (C₂H_2: reduction) rates. Antibiotic resistant markers were used for observing nodule occupancy. Cultivars L.-76-0132, PI 159319, Hoberland, Lee, PI 22173 and Centennial showed high nitrogenase activity of 6.25, 5.54, 17.43, 4.73, 6.94, and 4.81 μM C₂H₄/Pl/hr, respectively. Cultivars PI417419, PI 230978, Ogden , and FC 31665 showed low nitrogenase activity of 1.51, 0.80, 0.62 and 0.94 μM C₂H₄/Pl/hr, respectively. The data from this screening experiment suggest that the N₂ fixation varied among genotypes and all the nodules were occupied by the inoculated strains only. Rhizobial strain effect was observed among soybean cultivars (MGVI).