NODULE SENESCENCE AND BIOMASS COMPONENTS IN COMMON BEAN CULTIVARS

Abstract

Most legumes establish mutualistic symbiotic relationships with atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia), giving origin to nodules. Nodules exhibit natural or induced aging which coincides with the drop in nitrogenase activity at the flowering period or at the pod filling stage. In this research, the onset of nodule senescence (NS) was evaluated under greenhouse conditions in five common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars of two growth habits, determined (Type I) and indeterminate (Type III), inoculated with Rhizobium etli CE-3. Weekly destructive samplings were taken to determine nitrogen fixation by the acetylene reduction assay, the number and fresh weight of nodules, as well as root and above ground biomass dry weight. It was found that NS in bean appears to be independent of host plant phenological stage (flowering or pod filling), the longer period the symbiotic system is fixing nitrogen the greater yield is obtained, and that the nodules number and fresh weight are reliable indicators of the nitrogen fixation capacity.