Diversity and biotechnological potential of rhizobia isolated from lima bean nodules collected at a semi‐arid region

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is the second most important species of the Phaseolus genus worldwide. In Brazil, it is grown primarily in the semiarid Northeast region. Although lima bean establishes symbiosis with N-2-fixing bacteria (rhizobia), there is not yet a recommended inoculant. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically characterize rhizobia strains isolated from root nodules of lima bean collected in a Northeast region, and to evaluate their efficiency in supplying N nutrition to the crop under axenic conditions and in a Humic Rhodic Hapludox with and without correction of acidity. The symbiotic efficiencies were evaluated in a greenhouse under axenic conditions and, afterward, in pots with nonautoclaved soil with and without liming. Treatments consisted of the strains under evaluation, controls without inoculation (with low or high concentration or without mineral N), and a strain efficient for the crop. In all, 66 strains were isolated from the root nodules with predominance of strains belonging to the Bradyrhizobium genus. Liming brought about increases in lima bean development as it interacted with some strains. Six strains of the Bradyrhizobium genus, belonging to groups of type strains that include B. elkanii and B. japonicum, stood out for their biotechnological potential as inoculants for lima bean, and they should be tested in the field with the aim of validating their recommendation as inoculants for that crop.