Bioprospection of naturalized soybean-nodulating Bradyrhizobium strains in Uruguayan soils: a genetic and symbiotic approach.
ABSTRACT.- Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), an economically relevant crop, establishes a symbiotic association with rhizobia to obtain nitrogen (N2) from the air by biological nitrogen fixation with important benefits. In Uruguay inoculants formulated with two strains, Bradyrhizobium elkanii U1301 and U1302, are recommended since 1984. Besides that, the study of native-naturalized rhizobia populations is relevant because these strains could compete with applied inoculants and may present a better symbiotic efficiency.