Response of rhizobial strains on biochemical traits and nutrient uptake in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) under moisture stress

The present study was conducted to assess the biochemical responses and nutrient uptake in response to rhizobial inoculations in mungbean, and to screen the rhizobial isolates for drought tolerance. A field experiment was designed in randomized block design and replicated thrice during kharif 2016 at Crop Physiology Field Area, CCS, Hisar. The experiment consisted of two levels of treatments (1) without inoculation (only RDF) and (2) with inoculation (RDF with combination of five rhizobial strains viz. Vigna 703 + PSB strain P-36, MR 63, MR 54, MB 17a and MH 8b2) and two environments i.e. rainfed (no post sowing irrigation) and irrigated. Membrane stability index, leghaemoglobin content, chlorophyll content reduced by 17.7 %, 24.5% and 2.9% resp. under rainfed conditions while the plants inoculated with rhizobial isolate MR63 and MB 17a showed greater chlorophyll content (20.2% and 16.2%), LHb (29.1% and 22.9%) and MSI (19.4% and 17.9%) and enhanced nutrient uptake over RDF.