Selection of rhizobia strains for Adesmia latifolia (Spreng.) Vogel

Legumes of the genus Adesmia, such as Adesmia latifolia and Adesmia tristis, are native to Serra catarinense and show great potential as fodder. The purpose of this study was to select rhizobial strains from Adesmia latifolia. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, were completely randomised and were repeated five times. The experiment group consisted of 11 rhizobial strains from the Epagri collection and a control strain, all of which treated with or without mineral nitrogen. The results were statistically analysed with the Assistat programme. The Scott-Knott test was used at 5% to separate the means. The parameters to be evaluated in this selection were the dry matter of shoots, nodulation and the dry weight of nodules. The results showed that strain EEL 2399 had the best performance in all of the evaluated parameters, with values of 243 mg/pot dry matter, 44.33 nodules/pot and a nodule dry weight of 33.17 mg/jar being observed. Therefore, strain EEL 2399 can be used in tests for identifying rhizobial strains from Adesmia latifolia in field experiments.