ABSTRACT
Somatic antigens of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Rhizobium sp. (Cicer arietinum) and Rhizobium sp. (Leucaena leucocephala) were prepared as standard, single-species type from cultured cells. Equal numbers of the cells of these rhizobia were then combined to obtain a mixed-rhizobial-species antigen preparation. Rabbits were immunized either with the standard, single-species type or with the mixed-rhizobial-species antigen preparations. The antisera developed from the mixed antigen immunization contained antibodies for all three rhizobial species, detectable at agglutination titres of over 800. The mixed-rhizobial-species antisera were made species specific by cross-absorption. The cross-absorbed and the mixed-rhizobial-species antisera were generally similar in quality for strain identification by agglutination, fluorescent antibodies, immunoblot and ELISA. A 66% reduction in cost was estimated for the production of antisera by immunization with mixed-rhizobial-species antigen.
ABSTRACT
An examination of eight species of Cassia for nodulation under natural unsterilized soils of different types from varied agroclimatic regions, as well as under aseptic conditions, inoculated with rhizobia, representing all the 8 cross inoculation groups, showed lack of nodulation in all the tested species. The absence of specific strains of rhizobia and the morpho-physiological features of the non-nodulating species of Cassia were considered the possible non-nodulating causes.
