@article{fdi:010044118,
  title = {{S}election of high nitrogen-fixing rhizobia nodulating chickpea ({C}icer arietinum) for semi-arid {T}unisia},
  author = {{B}en {R}omdhane, {S}. and {A}ouani, {M}. {E}. and {T}rabelsi, {M}. and {L}ajudie de, {P}hilippe and {M}hamdi, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}noculation of grain legumes with rhizobia may improve biological {N}-2 fixation and crop yield. {H}owever, drought, high temperature and soil salinity constrain legume root-nodule formation and function. {H}ere, two rhizobial strains nodulating {T}unisian chickpea, {M}esorhizobium ciceri strain {CMG} 6 and {M}esorhizobium mediterraneum strain {CTM} 226 originating from semi-arid regions, were selected for their symbiotic performance and their salt stress tolerance (3 % {N}a{C}l). {B}oth strains were then examined as inoculants in different soils and field conditions. {F}ield experiments were conducted in four sites using four chickpea cultivars. {R}hizobia occupying nodules in non-inoculated plots were isolated and characterized using 16{S} r{DNA} typing; to examine nodule occupancy by the inoculant strains we used polymerase chain reaction ({PCR})-restriction fragment length polymorphism of 16{S} r{DNA} gene and repetitive extragenic palindromic {PCR}. {T}he inoculant strains gave a significant increase in nodule number, shoot dry weight and grain yield in all the experimented fields for the four cultivars used, even in the non-irrigated soils. {T}he improvement in plant production was equal to or better than nitrogen fertilization. {M}oreover, the monitoring of the nodule occupancy showed that inoculant strains competed well in the native populations of rhizobia. {T}hese results suggest that nodulation and yield of chickpea can be improved by inoculation with competitive and salt-tolerant rhizobia and is economically promising to increase chickpea production in water-limited regions.},
  keywords = {{C}hickpea ; {C}ompetitiveness ; {F}ield inoculation ; {R}hizobia ; {W}ater deficiency ; {Y}ield},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {A}gronomy and {C}rop {S}cience},
  volume = {194},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {413--420},
  ISSN = {0931-2250},
  year = {2008},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1439-037{X}.2008.00328.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044118},
}