A Fair-Weather Friend: the Impact of Environmental Factors on Rhizobium laguerreae Nodulation Efficiency

During the pea plant cultivation in a greenhouse within the Saint Petersburg region, the “new” symbiont, Rhizobium laguerreae, demonstrated various symbiotic phenotype manifestations, depending on the inoculum strain used. Histological analysis of the root nodules revealed various abnormalities in the symbiotic interaction between the partners. This finding suggests ecological and geographic factors must be considered when selecting rhizobia strains for agriculture. Thus, rhizobia adapted to specific environmental conditions may not be effective in other ones.