Co-Inoculation Potential of Serratia Spp and Mesorhizobium Ciceri for Improving Nodulation and Yield of Chickpea.

Rhizobium legume symbiotic association results in the development of nodules. Besides other features, phytohormones have an imperative function improving nodulation. Some rhizobacteria having ACC-deaminase activity promotes nodulation in plant by regulating endogenous biosynthesis of ethylene in roots. We tested the co-inoculation feasibility of rhizobium and rhizobacteria containing ACC-deaminase for improving nodulation and ultimate yield of chickpea. A filed study showed that co-inoculation with Serratia marcescens biotype A4 (SK9), Serratia odorifera (SK21) and Mesorhizobium ciceri increased the dry biomass, pods per plant, grain yield, nodules per plant and nodule dry weight of chickpea up to 32.8, 41.6, 34.3, 43.9, and 49.6 %, respectively over uninoculated control. The conventional sole inoculation with rhizobium and rhizobacteria possessing ACC-deaminase also significantly improved yield and nodulation in chickpea but co-inoculation was more prominent as compared to uninoculated control. It is proposed that co-inoculation of rhizobium and rhizobacteria having ACC-deaminase trait could be a useful approach for improving nodulation as well as yield of chickpea under semi-arid conditions. 

Key words: Co-inoculation, Serratia spp, Mesorhizobium ciceri, nodulation, chickpea