Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean is critical for obtaining high yields without the application of expensive nitrogen fertilizers. Plants respond to rhizobial infection by releasing stress hormone, ethylene, which has a negative impact on nodule formation. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) is the immediate precursor of ethylene in plants. Some rhizobia produce an enzyme, ACC deaminase, that can break down ACC and thereby lower ethylene concentrations in the plants. Several new inoculants have been introduced in recent years claiming more effectiveness than existing productsThis study determines if ACC deaminase activity can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of commercially available rhizobial inoculants.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents, plant pathologists