Biochemical and physiological characterizations of Rhizobium-Pea (Pisum sativum L.) symbiotic association under abiotic constraints

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important leguminous for the agricultural sector. It is a source of biological nitrogen that efficiently contributes to the soil fertility. In Tunisia, low pea production is due to bad nitrogen management, lack of phosphorus availability and to the abiotic constraints. Thus, in order to improve the pea production ,a new farming technique involving the rhizobia inoculation was applied. The symbiotic, biochemical, physiological characterization and inoculation trials were performed in both the laboratory, greenhouse and open field. Pea Lincoln variety was used as legume species and fifteen Rhizobium strains isolated from the roots of the nodulated pea were collected from different Tunisian areas. Several physiological and biochemical parameters, i.e. pH, temperature, calcium carbonate and salinity were assessed to characterize the strains nodulating pea. All the rhizobia tests were evaluated on Yeast Extract Mannitol Agar medium (YEMA). Pea nodulation and Gallery API test were carried out under controlled conditions. Significant differences (p