This work aimed to evaluate the symbiotic compatibility and nodulation efficiency of rhizobia isolated from Desmodium incanum, Lotus corniculatus, L. subbiflorus, L. uliginosus and L. glaber plants by cross-inoculation. Twelve reference strains and 21 native isolates of rhizobia were genetically analyzed by the BOX-PCR technique, which showed a high genetic diversity among the rhizobia studied. The isolates were also characterized based on their production of indolic compounds and siderophores, as well as on their tolerance to salinity. Fifteen of the 33 rhizobia analyzed were able to produce indolic compounds, whereas 13 produced siderophores. All the tested rhizobia were sensitive to high salinity, although some were able to grow in solutions of up to 2% NaCl. Most of the native rhizobia isolated from L. uliginosus were able to induce nodulation in all plant species studied. In a greenhouse experiment using both D. incanum and L. corniculatus plants, the rhizobia isolate UFRGS Lu2 promoted the greatest plant growth. The results demonstrate that there are native rhizobia in the soils of southern Brazil that have low host specificity and are able to induce nodulation and form active nodules in several plant species.

A inoculação de plantas leguminosas com rizóbios é um dos principais métodos biotecnológicos de utilização de micro-organismos em plantas visando à fixação biológica de nitrogênio na agricultura. No entanto, nos últimos anos, vêm sendo observada nesses micro-organismos a capacidade de produção de fitohormônios, principalmente o ácido indol-acético (AIA) e a promoção de crescimento em gramíneas. Dessa forma, os objetivos deste trabalho foram quantificar o ácido indol-acético produzido por rizóbios isolados de alfafa, avaliar o efeito da inoculação desses micro-organismos na germinação de sementes de arroz e realizar a caracterização genética desses isolados. Nove rizóbios isolados de nódulos de alfafa foram avaliados quanto a sua capacidade de produção de equivalentes de AIA e a influência da inoculação desses micro-organismos na germinação e desenvolvimento de plântulas de arroz. Os rizóbios produtores de AIA foram identificados pelo sequenciamento da região do gene 16S do DNAr. A produção de equivalentes ao ácido indol-acético foi observada em todos rizóbios, com valores que variaram de 43,04 a 101,26µg mL-1 em meio de cultura. Com relação à germinação das sementes de arroz, a inoculação com rizóbios acelerou o processo e o crescimento de suas plântulas. Os rizóbios UFRGS Ms58, Ms515, Ms195, Ms205, Ms2010 e 2012 foram identificados como pertencentes à espécie Sinorhizobium meliloti e UFRGS Ms55, Ms72 e Ms75 à espécie Rhizobium sp.

The inoculation of leguminous plants with rhizobia is one of the main methods of biotechnological use of microorganisms in order to obtain biological nitrogen fixation in agriculture. However, in recent years it has been attributed to these microorganisms the ability to produce phytohormones, mainly indole acetic acid (IAA), and to promote the growth in grasses. Thus, the objectives of this study were to quantify the indole acetic acid produced by rhizobia from alfalfa and to evaluate the effect of inoculation of these microorganisms on the germination of rice seed and to perform the genetic characterization of these isolates. Nine rhizobia, from nodules of alfalfa, were evaluated for their ability to produce IAA equivalents and for their influence in inoculating these microorganisms on germination and seedling development of rice. Moreover, these rhizobia producers of IAA were identified by the 16S region of DNAr. The equivalent production of indole acetic acid was observed in all tested isolates, with values ranging from 43.04 to 101.26µg mL-1 in culture medium. Regarding the germination of rice seeds, the inoculation with rhizobia accelerated this germination and its growth. Microorganisms UFRGS Ms58, UFRGS Ms515, UFRGS Ms195, UFRGS Ms205, UFRGS Ms2010 and UFRGS 2012 were identified as belonging to the species of Sinorhizobium meliloti. Microorganisms Ms55 UFRGS, UFRGS Ms75 and UFRG Ms72 were identified as belonging to the species of Rhizobium sp.