Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Fawzy M. Hashem, Bessie M. Green and Robert B. Dadson
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA
The eff ective interaction between soybean genotypes and Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculants are limited by the ability of these strains to compete with the relatively mediocre indigenous soybean bradyrhizobia strains. Soybean inoculation with phageresistant bradyrhizobia strains and selected rhizobiophages can be used as biocontrol system for controlling undesirable strains of B. japonicum. Five rhizobiophages lytic to B. japonicum strains, USDA 138, USDA 110, USDA I-110ARS, USDA 126, USDA 141, USDA 147 and Sinorhizobium fredii strains USDA 194, USDA 201, USDA 214, and USDA 217 were isolated from soybean rhizosphere soils. Phages were characterized by direct observation of plaque formation and by transmission electron microscopy. Rhizobiophages diff ered in their host specifi city. Phages namely PA14, PA10, FW15, PD20, and PA18 lyzed 60, 40, 33, 20, and 13% of bradyrhizobia strains, respectively. Phage PA14 which had the widest host range was used to examine the potential of using lytic rhizobiophages (Phage PA14) along with phage-sensitive (USDA 110) and phage-resistant (USDA TA11NOD+) bradyrhizobia strains to limit soybean nodulation by undesirable indigenous bradyrhizobia and enhance the nodulation by the eff ective inoculant strains. Th e inoculant containing phage PA14 and USDA 110 suppressed nitrogenase activity by 49%, while no signifi cant diff erence was found when the inoculant containing USDA TA11NOD+ either with or without phage PA14. Further, nodule occupancy by the superior inoculant strain, USDA TA11NOD+, was increased by 59% when soybean seeds were coated with USDA TA11NOD+ and Phage PA14. When soybean seeds were coated with PA14 and USDA 110, nodule occupancy by USDA 110 was decreased by 78%. Th is study indicates that phage PA14 in the presence of a compatible phage-resistant bradyrhizobia inoculant has the ability to signifi cantly decrease the occupancy of mediocre bradyrhizobia strains. Th erefore, phage PA14 can be used as a potential biocontrol agent to partially eliminate mediocre yet competitive B. japonicum strains and, thus, enhance nodulation, biological nitrogen fi xation and growth of soybean by the desirable strain.