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Effect of Rhizobial Strain and Host Plant on Nitrogen Isotopic Fractionation in Legumes

Ruakura Soil and Plant Research Station, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand

Lotus pedunculatus L., Medicago sativa L., Macroptilium atropurpureum, Glycine max, and Trifolium repens L. were grown in a N-free medium and inoculated with one of ten Rhizobium strains. Dry matter, N content, and ¹⁵N values were determined for various plant parts.

Nodules, with the exception of those from lucerne, were enriched in ¹⁵N relative to atmospheric N. Considerable variation was found in ¹⁵N values of plant herbage (–4.5 to +0.8). The extent of isotopic discrimination was dependent on both the host plant and the infecting rhizobial strain. This further complicates, but does not invalidate, the use of small variations in the natural abundance of ¹⁵N to estimate the contribution of symbiotically fixed N₂ to the N in legume herbage. Some other implications of the observed differences are also discussed.

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