Eco-Physiological and Morphological Characterization of Abyssinian Field Pea (Pisum sativum var. Abyssinicum) Nodulating Bacteria Isolated from Major Field Pea Growing Areas of Southern Tigray, Ethiopia
Aklil Gebremedhin *
Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Mekelle Soil Research Center, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Fassil Assefa
Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Anteneh Argaw
School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia and University of Adelaide, Australia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Ethiopian soils harbour rhizobia nodulating field pea (Pisum sativum var. sativum) and they are phenotypically divers and symbiotically effective. Field pea derives 65-70% N from the atmosphere and it satisfies its N requirement up to 85% through act of biological nitrogen fixation. However, there is no comprehensive research in Tigray region particularly, in the study area. Consequently, the current research was investigated on eco-physiological and morphological characteristics of wield field pea nodulating bacteria isolated from southern Tigray. A total of 80 soil samples were collected for nodule trapping, and 40 wield field pea nodulating bacteria were isolated and preserved for farther research. Various, confirmation parameters such as physiological, eco-physiological and morphological characteristics were undertaken considering the standard methods and procedures. All the tested isolates were presumptively found gram -ve, road shaped, failed to grow on peptone glucose agar and ketolactose test. Phenotypically, 85% of the isolates were appearing large mucoid, translucent, raised and white in color. Physiologically, 100 % of the isolates were grown at a temperature range between 15℃ and 30℃, at pH values 5.5 and 8.0, and at 0.1 and 0.3 %(w/v) NaCl concentrations, in addition to this, wield field pea nodulating bacteria uses a broad range of carbon and nitrogen sources (90-100%). Therefore, the study revealed that, wield field pea (Pisum sativum var. abyssinicum) nodulating bacteria have divers eco-physiological and morphological characteristics.
Keywords: Eco-physilogical, morphological, Abyssinian field pea, wild field pea