![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
The effect of nutrient starvation in Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899 on stress resistance to Al3+ and Mn2+ and on survival in acid soil associated with high Al3+ and Mn2+ contents was examined. In the liquid culture medium, after starvation by the exhaustion of carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorus nutrients, CIAT899 survived at least 5 months with a slight loss of viability, indicating its ability to survive under starvation conditions. Upon re-suspension into a low phosphorus medium containing a high concentration of Al3+ (50 µM) or Mn2+ (500 µM), the carbon-starved cells showed an increased tolerance to Al3+ and Mn2+ compared with the non-starved cells. When inoculated to acid soils associated with high Al3+ and Mn2+ contents, the carbon-starved cells of CIAT899 showed an enhanced survival ability compared with the non-starved cells. These results suggest the advantage of the use of carbon-starved cells of Rhizobium as an inoculum to leguminous plants, especially in acid soil associated with high Al3+ and Mn2+ contents, in order to increase the nodulation by the inoculated strain through enhanced survival in soil.