TAXONOMY AND NODULATING ABILITY OF PAPILIONOID LEGUMES OF BULGARIA WITH POTENTIAL USE IN FORAGE PRODUCTION

Abstract

The livestock industry plays an important role in the economy of Bulgaria by contributing a large portion of gross agricultural products. Increased demand for livestock products has led to corresponding increases in demand for forage. Considering the importance of legumes in forage production, this study was undertaken to explore nodulating status of Papilionoid legumes of Bulgaria. Nodulating ability was examined in 172 legumes of Bulgaria distributed in 10 Papilionoid tribes. Nodules were observed in 61 legume species growing in the greenhouse or under natural field conditions. Nodulation is reported for the first time in five of the Papilionoid legume species (Lathyrus alpestris (Waldst. & Kit.) Kit., Lathyrus pannonicus (Jacq.) Garcke, Medicago rhodopea Velen., Onobrychis alba (Waldst. & Kit.) Desv.), Pisum sativum L. var. elatius (Steven ex M. Bieb.) Alef.) found in Bulgaria. Nodulating status of 111 legume species was checked as reported in the literature and nodulation has been observed in 104 of these legumes species. Information is missing about nodulation about 7 legume species from Bulgaria and their nodulating status could not be confirmed from the field observations. Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr is a lost plant of Bulgarian flora and its nodulating ability could also not be established in the present study. This work is a preliminary step towards exploration of efficient symbiotic rhizobia and their use in the management of grasslands and pastures growing these legumes individually and in association with grasses for enhancing forage production in Bulgaria.