Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE SURVIVAL OF INTRODUCED CHICKPEA RHIZOOIA IN SOIL

Rita Singh and S.K. Kavimandan

Abstract

Eight strains of chickpea rhizobia - ND24, ND43, DN77 and DN9 I isolated from chickpea cvs. and their spontaneous mutants resistant to streptomycin (500 pg ml-') — ND24Str, ND77Str and kanamycin (50 jig ml-') — ND43Kan, DN9 I Kan were introduced into sterile soil and incubated at 20°C and 40°C and constant moisture (60% WHC). Resistance to streptomycin usually improved survivability of strains ND24Str and ND77Str as compared to their wild parent and were even able to persist in larger numbers at above temperature of 40°C.The mutant strain, ND43Kan was better adapted to abiotic factors of soil incubated at both the temperature.The other kanamycin resistant mutant DN9 1 Kan appeared to be sensitive as compared to its wild parent strain DN9 I.