Nodulation of beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus [L.] Bigel.) induced by different strains of rhizobia

In an attempt to screen the most effective rhizobial strain for the potenti al cold-climate legume crop beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus L.), rhizobia fro m eight different species of Lathyrus were tested along with the native str ain on a 9-wk-long pot culture. The native strain, ACCCRC, isolated from be ach pea proved to be the most effective. The tropical legume grass pea (L. sativus L.) tested with the above strains failed to nodulate with ACCCRC, U SDA 2422 and USDA 2446. Oleosome content of nodules assessed from histologi cal sections reveals higher numbers in beach pea than in grass pea.