RESUMO. Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar a eficiência agronômica de estirpes aprovadas como inoculantes para feijão-caupi e de três novas estirpes sob seleção, bem como avaliar a influência da calagem sobre a simbiose e a produtividade. Dois experimentos de campo foram conduzidos utilizando feijão-caupi (BRS Guariba) de junho a setembro de 2013. No primeiro experimento, o delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e sete tratamentos (INPA03-11B, UFLA03-84, UFLA03-153, UFLA03-154, UFLA03-164 e dois controles). No segundo experimento, um fatorial 7 x 2 foi utilizado, sendo o primeiro fator composto pelos tratamentos acima e a calagem o segundo fator. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: matéria seca de nódulos, matéra seca de parte aérea, teor e acúmulo de N na parte aérea, número de vagens por planta, número de grãos por vagem, peso de 100 sementes, rendimento de grãos e teor e acúmulo de N no grão. As estirpes UFLA03-153 e UFLA03-164 foram mais eficientes para a inoculação do feijão-caupi do que as estirpes aprovadas como inoculantes, UFLA03-84 e INPA03-11B. Apesar de as estirpes e da cultivar testadas serem tolerantes à acidez do solo, a produtividade de feijão-caupi foi maior quando o solo recebeu calagem. As produções obtidas com os tratamentos de inoculação fertilizados foram bem acima da média do estado do Maranhão.

ABSTRACT. The objetives of the study were to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of strains approved as inoculants for cowpea and of three new strains under selection, as well as to evaluate the influence of liming on the symbiosis and productivity. Two field experiments were conducted using cowpea (BRS Guariba) from June to September 2013. In the first experiment, a completely randomized block experimental design was used, with four replicates and seven treatments (INPA03-11B, UFLA03-84, UFLA03-153, UFLA03-154, UFLA03-164 and two controls). In the second experiment, a 7 x 2 factorial design was used, with the above described treatments being the first factor and liming as the second factor. Parameters evaluated were: nodule dry matter, shoot dry matter, shoot N content and accumulation, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, weight of 100 seeds, grain yield and grain N content and accumulation. Strains UFLA03-153 and UFLA03-164 were more efficient for cowpea inoculation than the strains approved as inoculants, UFLA03-84 and INPA03-11B. Although the tested rhizobia strains and cultivar BRS Guariba are tolerant to soil acidity, productivity washigher when soil was limed. Yields obtained with fertilized and inoculated treatments were well above Maranhão state average.

ABSTRACT: Optimization of symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes has been extensively studied, seeking agricultural sustainability. To evaluate the symbiotic efficiency of nitrogen-fixing bacterial strains belonging to the Bradyrhizobium genus with pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) cv. Fava-Larga, experiments were conducted in Leonard jars (axenic conditions), pots with soil, and in the field. Ten strains were tested in Leonard jars, and three strains, in addition to BR 29, were selected according to their ability to promote the growth of pigeon pea, for further tests in pots with different soil types (Inceptsol and Oxisol) and in the field (Oxisol). Treatments were compared with strains BR 2003 and BR 2801 (approved as inoculants for pigeon pea), with a non-inoculated control with mineral N fertilization, and with another non-inoculated control (absolute control) with low mineral N concentration (Leonard jars) or without mineral N fertilization (soil). The efficiency of Bradyrhizobium strains in axenic conditions varies among strains, being higher when pigeon pea cv. Fava-Larga establishes symbiosis with the strains UFLA 03-320, UFLA 03-321, UFLA 04-212, BR 2801, and BR 2003. The soil type influences the symbiotic efficiency of Bradyrhizobium-pigeon pea in soil in the greenhouse, mainly in Inceptsol, in which strains UFLA 04-212, BR 2801, and BR 2003 increased N accumulation in the plant. The strain UFLA 03-320 increased shoot dry matter and N accumulation in the shoot equivalent to the mineral N treatment under field conditions. UFLA 03-320, BR 29, UFLA 03-321, and UFLA 04-212 promoted yields similar to those of the reference strain (BR 2801), and of the mineral N treatment with 70 kg ha-1 urea-N. These results confirm that pigeon pea establishes efficient symbiosis, which provides the N required for its growth. All strains, except for BR 2003, show potential for recommendation as inoculants for grain production. The strain UFLA 03-320 also shows potential for use in green manure crops.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência simbiótica de estirpes de bactérias fixadoras de nitrogênio do gênero Bradyrhizobium com guandu-anão. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em vasos de Leonard, em vasos com solo e em campo. Foram testadas 11 estirpes em vasos de Leonard, e as que apresentaram maior eficiência em promover o crescimento do guandu-anão foram avaliadas em vasos com solo (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo e Cambissolo) e em campo (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo). Em todos os experimentos, os tratamentos foram comparados a dois controles positivos (estirpes aprovadas como inoculantes para as cultivares de guandu-anão BR 2003 e BR 2801) e a duas testemunhas sem inoculação, uma com alta concentração de N mineral, e a outra, a depender do experimento, sem N mineral (solo) ou com baixa concentração de N (vasos de Leonard). Algumas estirpes proporcionaram crescimento vegetal semelhante ou superior às estirpes-referência e às testemunhas em vaso de Leonard. Em vasos com solo, o tipo de solo influenciou os tratamentos. No campo, não houve diferença entre os tratamentos, e as estirpes nativas promoveram bom crescimento. O guandu-anão é capaz de estabelecer associação simbiótica com bactérias fixadoras de N2, e a estirpe UFLA 03-320 apresenta potencial para ser recomendada para a cultura junto com a estirpe BR 2801.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the symbiotic efficiency of nitrogen-fixing bacterial strains, from the genus Bradyrhizobium, with dwarf pigeon pea. The experiments were carried out in Leonard jars, in pots with soil and in the field. In Leonard jars, 11 strains were tested, and the most effective in promoting pigeon pea growth were evaluated in pots with soil (Oxisol and Cambisol) and in the field (Oxisol). In all experiments, treatments were compared to two positive controls (strains approved as inoculants for pigeon pea cultivars, BR 2003 and BR 2801) and to two controls without inoculation, one with a high concentration of mineral N, and the other, depending on the experiment, without mineral N (soil) or with low N concentration (Leonard jars). Some strains have provided plant growth similar or superior to the reference strains and to the controls in Leonard jars. In the pot experiment with soil, the soil type influenced the treatments. In the field, there was no difference among treatments, and the native strains promoted a good plant growth. Dwarf pigeon pea is able to establish a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and the strain UFLA 03-320 has the potential to be recommended for this crop together with the BR 2801 strain.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de promoção do crescimento vegetal e a diversidade genética de bactérias isoladas de nódulos de feijão-caupi cultivado em solos do Cerrado piauiense. Avaliaram-se 26 estirpes quanto à capacidade de fixar nitrogênio em vida livre, solubilizar fosfatos inorgânicos, produzir ácido-3-indolacético (AIA) na ausência e na presença do aminoácido triptofano (100 mg L-1), produzir nódulos e promover o crescimento de feijão-caupi em vasos Leonard. Nenhuma estirpe fixou nitrogênio em vida livre, e 69% foram capazes de solubilizar fosfato de cálcio in vitro. Na presença de triptofano, todas as estirpes foram capazes de sintetizar o AIA em meio 79, e 80% sintetizaram o AIA em meio DYGS. Apenas quatro estirpes nodularam o feijão-caupi. O sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA identificou as estirpes nodulíferas como pertencentes aos gêneros Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Bacillus e Paenibacillus. Entre as estirpes não nodulíferas promotoras do crescimento do feijão-caupi, estão os gêneros Bacillus e Paenibacillus.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential for plant growth promotion and the genetic diversity of bacteria isolated from nodules of cowpea grown in Cerrado soils in the state of Piauí, Brazil. Twenty-six strains were evaluated as to their ability to fixate free-living nitrogen, solubilize inorganic phosphates, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the absence and presence of tryptophan (100 mg L-1), produce nodules, and promote cowpea growth in Leonard jars. No strain was able to fixate free-living nitrogen, and 69% were able to solubilize calcium phosphate in vitro. In the presence of tryptophan, all strains were able to synthesize IAA in the 79 medium, and 80% synthesized IAA in the DYGS medium. Only four strains nodulated cowpea. The sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene identified the nodulating strains as belonging to the genera Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Bacillus, and Paenibacillus. Among the non-nodulating strains able to promote cowpea growth are the genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus.