Suppression of Nodule Development of One Side of a Split-Root System of Soybeans Caused by Prior Inoculation of the Other Side

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Abstract
In a split-root system of soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr), inoculation of one half-side suppressed subsequent development of nodules on the opposite side. At zero time, the first side of the split-root system of soybeans received Rhizobium japonicum strain USDA 138 as the primary inoculum. At selected time intervals, the second side was inoculated with the secondary inoculum, a mixture of R. japonicum strain USDA 138 and strain USDA 110. In a short-day season, nodulation by the secondary inoculum was inhibited 100% when inoculation was delayed 10 days. Nodulation on the second side was significantly suppressed when the secondary inoculum was delayed for only 96 hours. In a long-day season, nodule suppression on the second side was highly significant, but not always 100%. Nodule suppression on the second side was not related to the appearance of nodules or nitrogenase activity on the side of split-roots which were inoculated at zero time. When the experiments were done under different light intensities, nodule suppression was significantly more pronounced in the shaded treatments.

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