Ability of Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculum to improve fava beans (Vicia faba) growth and produce some hydrolytic enzyme

Abstract

Biological experiment was performed (with Complete Random Design (CRD)) by using sterile and non-sterile soil, to investigate Rhizobium leguminosarum isolate ability to enhance fava beans (Vicia faba) plant. The experiment includes: control group (C), fertilizer treatment as group 1 (F), and Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculum treatments as group 2 (R). Fava beans seeds were planted in pots filled with 5 Kg soil (sterile and non-sterile), and after seven weeks of germination, length and weight of plant vegetative part and plant root were measured. The ability of Rhizobium leguminosarum isolate to produce hydrolytic enzymes (chitinase, pectinase, protease, and lipase) was studied. The results show that the isolate was able to produce chitinase, pectinase, protease, and lipase enzymes. Furthermore, the addition of Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculum to fava beans plant increased the length and dry weight of plant vegetative part (20.3% and 51.5% respectively) and also increased the length and dry weight of plant root (49.28% and 56.2% respectively) as compared with control group.