Responses of Mungbean Varieties to Rhizobium Inoculation in respect of Nodulation, Nitrogenase Activity, Dry Matter Yield, and Nitrogen Uptake

The responses of six mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] varieties to Rhizobium inoculation on number and dry weight of nodules, nitrogenase activity of root nodule bacteria, dry weight of shoot and root, nitrogen content, and uptake by shoot were investigated. The mungbean varieties were BARI Mung-2, BARI Mung-3, BARI Mung-4, BARI Mung-5, BINA Moog-2, and BU Mung-1. Two-third seeds of each variety were inoculated with Rhizobium inoculant and the remaining one-third seeds were kept uninoculated. Rhizobium strains TAL 169 and TAL 441 were used for inoculation of seeds. Inoculation of seeds with Rhizobium strains significantly increased nodulation, nitrogenases activity, dry matter production, nitrogen content, and uptake by shoot of the crop compared to uninoculated control. There was positive correlation among the number and dry weight of nodules, nitrogenase activity, dry weight of shoot and root, nitrogen content, and uptake by shoot of the crop. It was concluded that BARI Mung-4 in association with Rhizobium strain TAL 169 performed best in recording nodulation, nitrogenase activity, dry matter production, and nitrogen uptake by shoot of mungbean.