VARIATION AMONG PROMISING GENOTYPES OF FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA FOENUN GRAECUM LINN) FOR SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN-FIXATION

A study was conducted on eleven high yielding varieties of fenugreek, along with a local variety, to evaluate their symbiotic potential with five local Rhizobium meliloti isolates under controlled conditions. S ignificant differences were observed among the host genotypes and rhiz obial isolates in respect of six symbiotic traits studied on plants cu ltured for 33 days. Interaction between the host and rhizobia was also significant for all the traits. On the basis of plant nitrogen conten t, isolate FR 3 and FR 9 were found superior. Host genotype UM 117 was generally a superior symbiotic partner.