Endophytic bacteria promote growth of the medicinal legume Clitoria ternatea L. by chemotactic activity.

Part of the native root nodule endophytic microflora referring to members of the genera Proteobacteria and Sphingobacteria were used to test their bioefficacy as seed biopriming. These were quantified for their plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes such as IAA production, P and K-solubilization and ACC deaminase production. Results showed that significantly highest IAA was produced by E. hormaechi RCT10. The highest P-solubilization was observed with S. maltophila RCT31 it was solubilizing all the substrate tri-calcium phosphate, di-calcium phosphate, and zinc phosphate. Significantly highest K-solubilization was observed with S. maltophila RCT31 followed by E. turicensis RCT5. However, the maximum zinc solubilization was reported with S. maltophila RCT31 followed by E. turicensis RCT5. The maximum ACC deaminase was quantified in the bacterium. Results revealed that the E. hormaechi RCT10 utilized seed leechates most effectively while root exudates were maximally utilized by S. maltophila RCT31. The pots experiment proves that S. maltophila RCT31 was the most effective bacterium and it was replication vis-à-vis field experiment. In particular, S. maltophila RCT31 holds strong potential to be possibly used as a bioformulation for the medicinal legume, as an economical and eco-friendly alternative to agrochemicals.

Influence of soil cover and N and K fertilization on the quality of biofortified QPM in the humid tropics.

BACKGROUND: In the humid tropics, unfavorable conditions present challenges to smallholder farmers attempting to meet food demands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of alley cropping and addition of potassium and nitrogen on the productivity and nutritional value of quality protein maize (QPM). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replicates in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five treatments, Gliricidia + Acacia (GA), Gliricidia + Clitoria (GC), Leucaena + Acacia (LA), Leucaena + Clitoria (LC) and bare soil (BS), in two cropping systems, one with addition of nitrogen and potassium (NK) and one without. RESULTS: The grain yield of LC + NK was significantly higher than that of all other treatments except GC + NK and LA + NK, and six times higher than that of BS + NK. The protein content of LC + NK was higher than that of the treatments without residue. CONCLUSION: Although the mulching of tree legumes increased the yield and quality of food for smallholder agriculture, achieving this outcome requires eliminating potentially negative interactions when combining trees and crops in addition to enhancing the availability and uptake of nutrients. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Frequências de cortes em nove leguminosas forrageiras tropicais herbáceas cultivadas ao sol e sob plantação florestal / Cutting frequencies of nine herbaceous tropical forage legumes cultivated under full sun light and under a forest plantation

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a produção e o valor nutritivo de nove espécies de leguminosas forrageiras herbáceas tropicais, cultivadas sob dois níveis de irradiação luminosa e seis frequências de corte na estação chuvosa, em Anhembi (SP), Brasil. Parcelas puras foram estabelecidas ao sol e sob plantação de Eucalyptus grandis, com 8 anos de idade, com 1.000 árvores/ha, que interceptou mais de 80% da radiação luminosa incidente. Avaliou-se a taxa de acúmulo de matéria seca, a proteína bruta e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca em amostras de plantas colhidas em intervalos de 30, 60, 90 e 180 dias, com cortes adicionais aos 120 e 150 dias. Sob pleno sol, as leguminosas testadas toleraram cortes mais frequentes (intervalos de 30 - 90 dias), exceto o Lablab. Na sombra, o grau de tolerância variou conforme a espécie; em termos de produção de MS e de persistência, a Centrosema e a Puerária se destacaram dentre as demais leguminosas comparadas, quando os cortes foram realizados em intervalos de 60 dias, enquanto o Arachis e o Estilosantes foram os mais produtivos quando os cortes ocorreram em intervalos de 120 dias, mantendo o valor nutricional. O Alysicarpus e a Aeschynomene não persistiram sob o nível de sombreamento que prevaleceu nesse experimento.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production and nutritive value of nine tropical legumes under two light intensities and six cutting regimens in the wet season, in Anhembi (SP) - Brazil. Pure stands were established in full light and under an eight-year-old eucalyptus plantation with 1.000 plants per hectare. The trees intercepted over80% of the incident radiation. Dry matter herbage accumulation, dry matter in vitro digestibility and crude protein under the cutting intervals 30, 60, 90 and 180 days, with additional cuttings at 120 and 150 days were evaluated. With the exception of Lablab, all other tested legume species tolerated higher cutting frequency under when grown under full sun light then under shade. The degree of shade-tolerance varied according to the species; Centrosema and Pueraria produced well at cutting intervals of 60 days, showing higher dry matter production and persistence while Arachis and Stylosanthes showed better results under longer cutting intervals, keeping the nutritional value, and can be indicated for differential grazing. Alysicarpus and Aeschynomene did not persist under the prevailing conditions.