Isolation and Identification of Rhizobium species from Root Nodules of Arachis hypogaea L. and Telfairia occidentalis in South-East, Nigeria

Nutrient deficiency in the soil poses enormous challenge to food production globally. The use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer to boost crop yield is a common farming practice, despite its untoward effects and hazard to the environment and human population. This study was aimed at isolating and identifying Rhizobium species from root nodules of Arachis hypogaea L. and Telfairia occidentalis so as to explore and maximize their contributions to soil nitrogen fertilization in place of synthetic fertilizers. A total of ten nodulated healthy plants (five each of Arachis hypogaea L. and Telfairia occidentalis plants) were collected from Ihiala and Ezzamgbo, both in south-east Nigeria and processed using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. The result revealed ten isolates of Rhizobium species. This shows that Arachis hypogaea L. and Telfairia occidentalis plants contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making them capable of self-nitrogen fertilization and valuable in crop rotations.