Genetic diversity of diazotrophs nodulating pigeon pea in arid and semi-arid zones of Haryana, India

The genetic diversity within forty nine rhizobial strains isolated from root nodules of pigeon pea crop grown in pots holding 5 kg soils collected from arid and semiarid zones of Haryana, India was investigated by using PCR-RFLP of the ribosomal operon [16S rRNA gene] and 16S rRNA gene partial sequence analysis. Genomic DNA of these rhizobial isolates was tested for nod C and nifH gene primers and hence authenticated as rhizobia. Out of 49 rhizobial isolates, only 35 isolates showed nifH gene amplification by using two different set of primers. All rhizobial isolates were also amplified with 16S rDNA gene using 27F and 1378R primers.