FUNCTIONING OF SYMBIOTIC SYSTEMS OF COWPEA – NODULE BACTERIA

The nodule bacteria were isolated from the nodules of cowpea. On the basis of phenotypical properties these rhizobia were referred to slow growing bacteria of Bradyrhizobium genus. Interaction features of cowpea with the nodule bacteria of cowpea (Bradyrhizobium sp. (Vigna)) and soybean (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) on nitrogen-free substrate and in soil culture were studied. It was established that the cowpea rhizobia strains possess high specificity to the host plant, promote symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity in 1,8-2,6 times and increase plants aboveground mass yield in 1,4-3,4 times, in comparison with control. The significant positive influence of the active soybean microsymbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum 46 on the growth and development of cowpea was shown.